Justin Rose matches Charley Hoffman for Masters lead with 67

Georgia: England`s Justin Rose, the 2013 US Open champion, fired a five-under par 67 Thursday to match American Charley Hoffman for the clubhouse lead during the opening round of the 79th Masters.

Rose, 11th in the world rankings, made six birdies against a lone bogey to join Hoffman, the first player on the course, atop the leaderboard at Augusta National.

Rose birdied the third, fifth and par-3 sixth holes to reach three-under and birdied to start the back nine. After his lone bogey at 11, Rose birdied the par-5 13th and 15th and parred in from there.

Hoffman, who ended a five-year PGA win drought last November, eagled the par-5 15th hole, birdied the par-3 16th and closed with another birdie to finish on 67.

Hoffman, ranked 63rd, made back-to-back birdies at the second and third holes, stumbled with a bogey at the par-3 fourth but birdied the par-4 fifth before his only other bogey at the 11th, setting the stage for his sizzling finish.

American Russell Henley was third in the clubhouse on 68 while England`s Paul Casey was level with him on four-under with three holes to play and American Bill Haas was four-under with two remaining.