"It's very disappointing. You really want to get off to a nice start at the start of the season, but I've got to realize that it is only the start of the season and there's a lot of golf left. I said to the guys yesterday on the way back, as long as I feel like my game is in good shape heading into Augusta, that's all I'm worried about."
Rose started slowly but finished with a flurry. He had three of his four birdies on the back nine including on his 18th when his approach shot came within a few feet of the pin. Second at the Dubai World Championship last month, Rose said he was confident.
"There's a difference in how I feel about my game and how I trust my game, absolutely. I believe that any tournament I tee up in, I can win," Rose said.
Robert Rock, the defending champion from England, withdrew before the round because of illness.
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