Justin Rose's secret weapon in 2025 Masters battle with Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau

Justin Rose is leading the pack at The Masters with a 36-hole lead, and he's got a secret weapon as he gears up for a crucial third round at Augusta National.

After a stunning first-round 65, Rose kept his cool with a one-under-par 71 on Friday, putting him at the top of the leaderboard at eight-under-par. He's just one stroke ahead of Bryson DeChambeau and two in front of a revitalised Rory McIlroy, with Canada's Corey Conners also in hot pursuit.

The Augusta National course is renowned for its difficulty, challenging players both mentally and physically with its complex layout, tricky greens, and the demanding hills and elevation changes. At 44 years old, Rose, who boasts a U.S. Open win, an Olympic gold medal, and a former No. 1 ranking, is ready to take on the challenge.

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In 2021, he invested in an RV and customised it to support his life on tour, equipping it with luxuries like hot and cold plunges, a steam shower, an infrared sauna, and even a . Rose credits this mobile recovery unit, which accompanies him to every tournament in the US, with helping him maintain his youthfulness, reports .

"The whole reason for having it is, also, I live in England and play the PGA TOUR and so there's a lot of travel," Rose explained to the media on Friday. "So how do I mitigate that extra load on my body to stay willing and able and capable enough to compete out here?".

"Anything I can do to mitigate the wear and tear on my body, especially as I get older. Obviously, I'm willing to invest in that. Yeah, I think it's been very helpful."

ace Justin Rose is all about longevity, expressing his commitment to preserving his form and fitness in the game's latter stages. He made quite the impact with a burst onto the leaderboards last year, snatching attention at the PGA Championship and nabbing second place at The Open, where he was bested by only the stellar play of Xander Schauffele.

With a strong track record bolstering his confidence, the Ryder Cup icon believes major wins are still within reach, feeling utterly comfortable even with high stakes on the line in 2024.

"You know, sometimes you've just got to knock on the door," Rose reflected. "I don't think I can do anything differently. On both those occasions, especially Valhalla, I actually made a run into contention there, which is great."

Rose has found his groove climbing the leaderboard, evident from his cool composure during these critical moments, especially considering he hadn't had many chances like this in the years prior.

"And then, yeah, The Open Championship, very much the same thing. Given how much you dream about winning them, I felt remarkably comfortable in those situations.

"That's what I've learned from those two things, and to sort of make it happen this weekend is, yeah, what is it? Like if it was a secret recipe, you'd know it by now. But it's about just playing great golf. And I think the leaderboard is stacking up very favorably for what looks like world-class players right up there.

"So you're going to have to play great golf, and you're going to have to go out there and want it and go for it and get after it. It's as simple as that, really."