• Grand Slam of Golf

Rose takes two-shot lead in Bermuda

Padraig Harrington and Jason Dufner are both chasing Justin Rose © Getty Images

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Justin Rose leads by two shots on four under after day one of the Grand Slam of Golf in Bermuda.

The US Open champion carded an opening-round 67 at Port Royal Golf Course with US PGA winner Jason Dufner his closest challenger.

Adam Scott, the Masters champion, is a further shot back from Dufner on one under with Padraig Harrington trailing in fourth on three over after shooting 74.

Rose said: "I felt like I didn't really play my best today but I kept the ball out of some really bad spots out there on the golf course.

"I felt like I putted really well today. I felt like I read the greens well. There's quite a bit of break. I felt like I had a lot of putts that I was playing two, three, four cups outside the hole. But for the most part, I read the greens well."

Scott and Rose were tied for the lead at four under through nine holes, with the Australian racking up four birdies compared to the Englishman's five. However Scott also added a bogey on the ninth.

Dufner kept in touch with birdies on the second, third, seventh and eighth holes to move three under through the front nine. Harrington was one under though after three bogeys and two birdies.

Rose then took the outright lead after a birdie on the 12th with Scott making par. But it was a short-lived lead with Rose bogeying the next hole, while Dufner's birdie ensured he moved alongside both at the top.

Dufner then missed a glorious opportunity to take the outright lead. Scott and Rose both bogeyed the 14th with Dufner seeing a three-foot putt for par lip out.

All three made par on 15 but a two-over par for Harrington saw him drop five shots back.

Rose then pushed ahead with par on the next hole after Dufner bogeyed and Scott and Harrington double-bogeyed. A birdie on 17 extended Rose's lead further.

"It was a tale of two nines," said Scott. "I played really nice on the front nine, then just like the other guys, had a few struggles on the back, and made the worst of it, really. Unfortunately missed a few putts and a bad break on 16.

"But I felt like I played pretty well. I probably should have had a couple better. Have to go out there tomorrow and light it up."

Rose, Scott and Dufner are making their first appearances in the tournament after their maiden major wins this year. Last year's winner Harrington replaced Phil Mickelson, the Open champion, who withdrew due to a scheduling conflict. Harrington also appeared in 2007 and 2008, losing play-offs to Angel Cabrera and Jim Furyk.

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