This is a photo collection curated by AP photo editors.
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrating his 894th goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) fires off a shot against the Chicago Blackhawks during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, April 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) with the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) raises his arm after scoring his 894th goal in an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) pointing upwards after scoring his 894th goal against the Chicago Blackhawks during the third period of an NHL hockey game Friday, April 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) skates over to his son Sergei, after scoring his 894th goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin poses in the in the locker room with his 894th NHL career goal puck in an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrating his 894th goal with teammates during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates his 893rd goal in a hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, April 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrating his 894th goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates a goal against the Carolina Hurricanes during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)
A man wearing a suit of mascot of Dynamo hockey club hangs digits showing number of goals scored by Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin in his NHL career at the VTB Arena – Dynamo Central Stadium in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Dmitry Serebryakov)
FILE - Washington Capitals Alex Ovechkin, from Russia, holds up the Stanley Cup trophy during the NHL hockey team's Stanley Cup victory celebration, Tuesday, June 12, 2018, at the National Mall in Washington. The U.S. Capitol rises in the background. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)
FILE - Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) watches his team play during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Anaheim Ducks, Tuesday, March 11, 2025, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong, File)
FILE - Alexander Ovechkin, of Russia, speaks to the media during a NHL hockey news conferece, Friday, June 25, 2004, in Durham, N.C., prior to the NHL draft. AP Photo/ Karl DeBlaker, File)
FILE - Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) watches from the bench during an NHL hockey game against the Anaheim Ducks, Tuesday, March 11, 2025, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong, File)
FILE - Alexander Ovechkin, center, of Russia, shakes hands with Washington Capitals officials after being selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the NHL Draft, Saturday, June 26, 2004, at the RBC Center in Raleigh, N.C. (AP Photo/ Karl DeBlaker)
FILE - Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) reacts during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the New Jersey Devils, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger, File)
FILE - Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin (8) watches during a faceoff in the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh, N.C., Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker, File)
FILE - Alexander Ovechkin, 19, the Washington Capitals' 2004 number one draft pick, holds up his team jersey during a news conference at the MCI Center in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 1, 2005, to announce his signing with the team. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)
FILE - Russia's Alexander Ovechkin, reported to be the number one pick in next month's NHL hockey draft, answers reporters questions before the start of Game 2 of the Stanley Cup playoffs in Tampa, Fla., Thursday, May 27, 2004. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)
FILE - Alexander Ovechkin, of Russia, puts on a Washington Capitals hat after being selected as the first overall pick of the NHL Draft, Saturday, June 26, 2004, at the RBC Center in Raleigh, N.C. (AP Photo/ Karl DeBlaker, File)
FILE - Russia's Alexander Ovechkin celebrates his goal against Slovakia during World Cup of Hockey tournament in Toronto, Sunday Sept. 5, 2004. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP, iIle)
FILE - Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin skates after the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Anaheim Ducks Wednesday, March 1, 2023, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
FILE - Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) scores against Edmonton Oilers goaltender Calvin Pickard (30) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)
FILE - Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) walks off the ice after warm ups before a NHL hockey game against the San Jose Sharks, Saturday, March 15, 2025 in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar, File)
People walk past a billboard depicting Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin marking his NHL career goals with the words reading "Ovechkin is always first!" in St. Petersburg, Russia, Friday, April 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
The goal counter reads 888 for the number of career goals by Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin after he scored during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates his goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates his 889th NHL goal against the Winnipeg Jets during the third period of their NHL hockey game in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin takes to the ice to warm up before an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers, Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
FILE - Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin poses with the Maurice Richard Trophy, the Stanley Cup, the Conn Smythe Trophy, and the Prince of Wales Trophy, from left, after the NHL Awards, Wednesday, June 20, 2018, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)
FILE - Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin, of Russia, hoists the Stanley Cup after the Capitals defeated the Golden Knights in Game 5 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals, June 7, 2018, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) hits the puck past Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman (1) to score during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) reacts after scoring a goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins, Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin warms up before an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin warms up before an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
FILE - Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin reacts during a media availability at the team's NHL hockey training camp in Arlington, Va., Sept. 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)
FILE - New York Rangers' Wayne Gretzky (99) celebrates scoring a goal in the third period during an NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars in Dallas, Friday, Nov. 7, 1997. (AP Photo/LM Otero, File)
FILE - Los Angeles Kings' Wayne Gretzky (99) of the Los Angeles Kings scores his record-setting 802nd career NHL goal during an NHL hockey game against the Vancouver Canucks in Wednesday, March 23, 1994, at the Forum in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Draper, File)
FILE - Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin celebrates his second goal of the game during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)
FILE - Hockey legend Wayne Gretzky laughs as he wears his new Hockey Hall of Fame ring during his induction ceremony at the Hall in Toronto, Nov. 22, 1999. (AP Photo/Frank Gunn, File)
FILE - Edmonton Oilers Wayne Gretzky, right, shows his joy after registering his fourth goal during an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers in Philadelphia, March 7, 1981, as teammate Risto Siltanen comes to congratulate him. (AP Photo/Clem Murray, File)
FILE - Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8), of Russia, follows through on a shot during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers, Wednesday, March 28, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)
FILE - Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin celebrates after his winning goal against the Ottawa Senators during overtime NHL hockey game action in Ottawa, Ontario, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP, File)
FILE - Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates his goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)
FILE - Edmonton Oilers Wayne Gretzky, left, and New York Islanders Denis Potvin (5) jostle for a loose puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, N.Y., March 26, 1988. (AP Photo/Wa Funches)
FILE - Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin, of Russia, winds up for a shot during the second period of the team's NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers, Wednesday, March 28, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, FIle)
FILE - Fans cheer as Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin celebrates his goal against the Arizona Coyotes during the third period of an NHL hockey game, on Monday, Feb. 22, 2016, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, FIle)
FILE - Russia's Alexander Ovechkin reacts after team's victory at the Ice Hockey World Championships bronze medal match between Russia and USA, in Moscow, Russia, on Sunday, May 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev, File)
Alexander Ovechkin, 19, the Washington Capitals' 2004 No. 1 draft pick, left, holds up his team jersey with team vice president and general manager George McPhee during a news conference at the MCI Center in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 1, 2005 to announce Ovechkin's signing with the team. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)
FILE - In this Dec. 14, 2019, file photo, Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin follows through on a shot against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)
FILE - Alex Ovechkin, left, of Russia, and his father Mikhail. Ovechkin reacts after being selected as the first overall pick by the Washington Capitals during the NHL Draft, June 26, 2004, at the RBC Center in Raleigh, N.C. (AP Photo/Grant Halverson, File)
FILE - Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin poses in the in the locker room with his 798, 799, and 800th NHL career goal pucks following his hatrick in an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)
FILE - Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin acknowledges the crowd's applause after scoring his 800th NHL career goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)
FILE - Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin poses with the puck commemorating his 700th NHL career goal that he scored against the New Jersey Devils in the third period at Prudential Center on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020, in Newark, New Jersey. (Patrick McDermott/NHLI Pool Photo via AP, File)
FILE - Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates his 700th NHL career goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the New Jersey Devils Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun, File)
FILE - Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) watches his shot get past Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) for his 600th NHL career goal in the second period of a hockey game, Monday, March 12, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)
FILE - Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin celebrates his 600th career goal in the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Winnipeg Jets, Monday, March 12, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)
FILE - Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin, (8) leaps in the air in celebration after scoring his 500th NHL career goal during the second period of a hockey game against the Ottawa Senators in Washington, D.C., Sunday, Jan. 10, 2016. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)
FILE - Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin (8), of Russia, is congratulated by teammate Mike Green (52) after Ovechkin scored his 400th NHL career goal in the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh, N.C., Friday, Dec. 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File)
FILE - Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin (8) scores an empty net goal for his 400th NHL career goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh, N.C., Friday, Dec. 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File)
FILE - Washington Capitals Alexander Ovechkin, left, celebrates scoring his 300th NHL career goal with teammate Brooks Laich (21) during first period of an NHL hockey game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Tuesday, April 5, 2011, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP, FIle)
FILE - Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin (8), of Russia, celebrates after scoring his 200th NHL career goal with teammate Alexander Semin, left, during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings, Feb. 5, 2009, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)
FILE - Washington Capitals left wing Alexander Ovechkin celebrates after scoring his 100th career NHL goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers, Friday, Oct. 12, 2007 in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)
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FILE - Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin poses with the Maurice Richard Trophy, the Stanley Cup, the Conn Smythe Trophy, and the Prince of Wales Trophy, from left, after the NHL Awards, Wednesday, June 20, 2018, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrating his 894th goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) fires off a shot against the Chicago Blackhawks during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, April 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) with the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) raises his arm after scoring his 894th goal in an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) pointing upwards after scoring his 894th goal against the Chicago Blackhawks during the third period of an NHL hockey game Friday, April 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) skates over to his son Sergei, after scoring his 894th goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin poses in the in the locker room with his 894th NHL career goal puck in an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrating his 894th goal with teammates during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates his 893rd goal in a hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, April 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrating his 894th goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates a goal against the Carolina Hurricanes during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)
A man wearing a suit of mascot of Dynamo hockey club hangs digits showing number of goals scored by Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin in his NHL career at the VTB Arena – Dynamo Central Stadium in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Dmitry Serebryakov)
FILE - Washington Capitals Alex Ovechkin, from Russia, holds up the Stanley Cup trophy during the NHL hockey team's Stanley Cup victory celebration, Tuesday, June 12, 2018, at the National Mall in Washington. The U.S. Capitol rises in the background. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)
FILE - Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) watches his team play during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Anaheim Ducks, Tuesday, March 11, 2025, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong, File)
FILE - Alexander Ovechkin, of Russia, speaks to the media during a NHL hockey news conferece, Friday, June 25, 2004, in Durham, N.C., prior to the NHL draft. AP Photo/ Karl DeBlaker, File)
FILE - Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) watches from the bench during an NHL hockey game against the Anaheim Ducks, Tuesday, March 11, 2025, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong, File)
FILE - Alexander Ovechkin, center, of Russia, shakes hands with Washington Capitals officials after being selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the NHL Draft, Saturday, June 26, 2004, at the RBC Center in Raleigh, N.C. (AP Photo/ Karl DeBlaker)
FILE - Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) reacts during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the New Jersey Devils, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger, File)
FILE - Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin (8) watches during a faceoff in the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh, N.C., Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker, File)
FILE - Alexander Ovechkin, 19, the Washington Capitals' 2004 number one draft pick, holds up his team jersey during a news conference at the MCI Center in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 1, 2005, to announce his signing with the team. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)
FILE - Russia's Alexander Ovechkin, reported to be the number one pick in next month's NHL hockey draft, answers reporters questions before the start of Game 2 of the Stanley Cup playoffs in Tampa, Fla., Thursday, May 27, 2004. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)
FILE - Alexander Ovechkin, of Russia, puts on a Washington Capitals hat after being selected as the first overall pick of the NHL Draft, Saturday, June 26, 2004, at the RBC Center in Raleigh, N.C. (AP Photo/ Karl DeBlaker, File)
FILE - Russia's Alexander Ovechkin celebrates his goal against Slovakia during World Cup of Hockey tournament in Toronto, Sunday Sept. 5, 2004. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP, iIle)
FILE - Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin skates after the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Anaheim Ducks Wednesday, March 1, 2023, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
FILE - Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) scores against Edmonton Oilers goaltender Calvin Pickard (30) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)
FILE - Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) walks off the ice after warm ups before a NHL hockey game against the San Jose Sharks, Saturday, March 15, 2025 in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar, File)
People walk past a billboard depicting Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin marking his NHL career goals with the words reading "Ovechkin is always first!" in St. Petersburg, Russia, Friday, April 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
The goal counter reads 888 for the number of career goals by Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin after he scored during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates his goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates his 889th NHL goal against the Winnipeg Jets during the third period of their NHL hockey game in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin takes to the ice to warm up before an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers, Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
FILE - Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin poses with the Maurice Richard Trophy, the Stanley Cup, the Conn Smythe Trophy, and the Prince of Wales Trophy, from left, after the NHL Awards, Wednesday, June 20, 2018, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)
FILE - Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin, of Russia, hoists the Stanley Cup after the Capitals defeated the Golden Knights in Game 5 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals, June 7, 2018, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) hits the puck past Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman (1) to score during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) reacts after scoring a goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins, Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin warms up before an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin warms up before an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
FILE - Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin reacts during a media availability at the team's NHL hockey training camp in Arlington, Va., Sept. 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)
FILE - New York Rangers' Wayne Gretzky (99) celebrates scoring a goal in the third period during an NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars in Dallas, Friday, Nov. 7, 1997. (AP Photo/LM Otero, File)
FILE - Los Angeles Kings' Wayne Gretzky (99) of the Los Angeles Kings scores his record-setting 802nd career NHL goal during an NHL hockey game against the Vancouver Canucks in Wednesday, March 23, 1994, at the Forum in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Draper, File)
FILE - Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin celebrates his second goal of the game during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)
FILE - Hockey legend Wayne Gretzky laughs as he wears his new Hockey Hall of Fame ring during his induction ceremony at the Hall in Toronto, Nov. 22, 1999. (AP Photo/Frank Gunn, File)
FILE - Edmonton Oilers Wayne Gretzky, right, shows his joy after registering his fourth goal during an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers in Philadelphia, March 7, 1981, as teammate Risto Siltanen comes to congratulate him. (AP Photo/Clem Murray, File)
FILE - Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8), of Russia, follows through on a shot during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers, Wednesday, March 28, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)
FILE - Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin celebrates after his winning goal against the Ottawa Senators during overtime NHL hockey game action in Ottawa, Ontario, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP, File)
FILE - Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates his goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)
FILE - Edmonton Oilers Wayne Gretzky, left, and New York Islanders Denis Potvin (5) jostle for a loose puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, N.Y., March 26, 1988. (AP Photo/Wa Funches)
FILE - Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin, of Russia, winds up for a shot during the second period of the team's NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers, Wednesday, March 28, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, FIle)
FILE - Fans cheer as Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin celebrates his goal against the Arizona Coyotes during the third period of an NHL hockey game, on Monday, Feb. 22, 2016, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, FIle)
FILE - Russia's Alexander Ovechkin reacts after team's victory at the Ice Hockey World Championships bronze medal match between Russia and USA, in Moscow, Russia, on Sunday, May 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev, File)
Alexander Ovechkin, 19, the Washington Capitals' 2004 No. 1 draft pick, left, holds up his team jersey with team vice president and general manager George McPhee during a news conference at the MCI Center in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 1, 2005 to announce Ovechkin's signing with the team. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)
FILE - In this Dec. 14, 2019, file photo, Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin follows through on a shot against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)
FILE - Alex Ovechkin, left, of Russia, and his father Mikhail. Ovechkin reacts after being selected as the first overall pick by the Washington Capitals during the NHL Draft, June 26, 2004, at the RBC Center in Raleigh, N.C. (AP Photo/Grant Halverson, File)
FILE - Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin poses in the in the locker room with his 798, 799, and 800th NHL career goal pucks following his hatrick in an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)
FILE - Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin acknowledges the crowd's applause after scoring his 800th NHL career goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)
FILE - Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin poses with the puck commemorating his 700th NHL career goal that he scored against the New Jersey Devils in the third period at Prudential Center on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020, in Newark, New Jersey. (Patrick McDermott/NHLI Pool Photo via AP, File)
FILE - Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates his 700th NHL career goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the New Jersey Devils Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun, File)
FILE - Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) watches his shot get past Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) for his 600th NHL career goal in the second period of a hockey game, Monday, March 12, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)
FILE - Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin celebrates his 600th career goal in the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Winnipeg Jets, Monday, March 12, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)
FILE - Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin, (8) leaps in the air in celebration after scoring his 500th NHL career goal during the second period of a hockey game against the Ottawa Senators in Washington, D.C., Sunday, Jan. 10, 2016. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)
FILE - Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin (8), of Russia, is congratulated by teammate Mike Green (52) after Ovechkin scored his 400th NHL career goal in the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh, N.C., Friday, Dec. 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File)
FILE - Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin (8) scores an empty net goal for his 400th NHL career goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh, N.C., Friday, Dec. 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File)
FILE - Washington Capitals Alexander Ovechkin, left, celebrates scoring his 300th NHL career goal with teammate Brooks Laich (21) during first period of an NHL hockey game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Tuesday, April 5, 2011, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP, FIle)
FILE - Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin (8), of Russia, celebrates after scoring his 200th NHL career goal with teammate Alexander Semin, left, during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings, Feb. 5, 2009, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)
FILE - Washington Capitals left wing Alexander Ovechkin celebrates after scoring his 100th career NHL goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers, Friday, Oct. 12, 2007 in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Justin Rose managed to steal the attention away from Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy in the Masters by matching his personal best at Augusta National with a 7-under 65 for a three-shot lead Thursday in the first major of the year.
Scheffler did his part in his bid to win a third Masters green jacket in four years, playing a bogey-free round of 68.
McIlroy, so desperate to win this major and complete the career Grand Slam, was right there with him until the end. He took a pair of double bogeys late in the afternoon with careless mistakes and had to settle for a 72. It was the seventh straight time he failed to break 70 in the opening round of the Masters.
Rose burst out of the gates with three straight birdies. He added three more around the turn. He was headed for a round nearly 10 shots better than the field average until a poor tee shot into the trees led to his only bogey at the final hole.
No matter. This was a reminder to Rose that his good golf is still very good.
“I'm 44. Golf is not going to get easier for me in the next five, 10 years, whatever it's going to be,” Rose said. “So your opportunity is less going forward. So you have to make the most of it.”
Rose set one Masters record: The fifth time he has had at least a share of the 18-hole lead, breaking the mark held by Jack Nicklaus. The glaring difference, of course, is Nicklaus has six of those green jackets.
It also was the eighth time Rose has had at least a share of the lead after any round at Augusta National, something only five others have done. All are Masters champions.
“I feel like I've played well enough to win this tournament,” said Rose, whose best chance was a playoff loss to Sergio Garcia in 2017. “I just feel like I don't have the jacket to prove it. ... But you've got to be playing the golf to keep creating those opportunities, and the only way to do that is to get your name on the leaderboard. I definitely don't shy away from it.”
Scheffler was 3 under at the turn, including one birdie on the par-5 eighth in which his ball was deep in a divot hole short of the green. He managed to get that out some 20 feet left of the pin and used the slope to bring it back to 15 feet and made the putt.
He was rarely under stress.
“I struggled for what felt like two pars today,” Scheffler said “But other than that, the golf course was in front of me most of the day, kept the ball in play, did a lot of really good things out there.”
Corey Conners of Canada birdied his last two holes for a 68, and they were joined Ludvig Aberg, the super Swede who was runner-up to Scheffler in his Masters debut a year ago.
U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau and Tyrrell Hatton carried the LIV Golf flag, both at 69. DeChambeau had seven birdies in his up-and-down day, a show of his scoring power.
“Making some bogeys for me probably frees me up a little bit and says, you know what? Just go out and play some golf,” DeChambeau said.
The roars came early, along with a few shockers.
Fred Couples, who wondered a month ago if at 65 with a creaky back he would still be welcomed to play, became only the second player that age to break par. Couples holed out from the fairway on the 14th with a 6-iron hybrid on his way to a 71. Tom Watson was also 65 — by 28 days he is still the oldest — when he shot 71 in 2015.
The horror show belonged to Nick Dunlap, a 21-year-old who last year won on the PGA Tour as an amateur. This must have felt like amateur hour when he made double bogey on the final hole for a 90. It was the highest score since Ben Crenshaw shot 91 in 2015 at ag 63.
Hideki Matsuyama might have caught the worst break when his approach into the par-5 13th hit the pin and caromed into the tributary of Rae's Creek. The wildest day belonged to Nicolai Hojgaard — one eagle, five birdies, four pars, five bogeys and three double bogeys. Do the math and that comes out to 76.
“It's mentally draining playing a round like this,” Hojgaard said.
And then there was McIlroy, chipping into the water from behind the 15th green for double bogey, and then going long on the 17th and compounding that mistake with a three-putt for another double bogey.
Far more blissful on a warm spring day was Rose, who at one point had it going so well that he felt like a pitcher throwing a no-hitter.
He pitched to 6 feet for birdie on the par-5 eighth. He hit wedge to the ninth and used the slope to set up a 5-foot birdie, giving him a career-low 31 on the front nine. That was followed by a 12-foot birdie putt.
“That's when the day felt a bit different. That’s when I felt I was doing something potentially more on the special side,” Rose said.
And then he really began to pull away from the field with a smart pitch away from the water to set up a 10-foot birdie on the 15th, followed by a 20-foot birdie on the par-3 16th. The pins on the final two holes allowed for birdies and Rose was thinking super special. He got par-bogey instead that didn't ruin his mood.
The average score was 73.6. Only six players broke 70, and 20 others broke par.
“Overall, great day," Rose said.. “I played a lot of golf here at Augusta National. So to come away with my equal best score is certainly an achievement for me.”
Still three days away is an achievement that so far has eluded him.
AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf
Justin Rose walks to the green on the 15th hole during the first round at the Masters golf tournament, Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Justin Rose waits to putt on the 18th hole during the first round at the Masters golf tournament, Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Shane Lowry, of Ireland, reacts after missing a putt on the 15th hole during the first round at the Masters golf tournament, Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, hits his tee shot on the 18th hole during the first round at the Masters golf tournament, Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, hits from the fairway on the 15th hole during the first round at the Masters golf tournament, Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Thomas Detry, of Belgium, hits from the bunker on the second hole during the first round at the Masters golf tournament, Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Collin Morikawa hits his tee shot on the ninth hole during the first round at the Masters golf tournament, Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Brian Harman tees it up on the ninth hole during the first round at the Masters golf tournament, Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Jose Luis Ballester, of Spain, watches his tee shot on the eighth hole during the first round at the Masters golf tournament, Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Justin Rose hits from the pine straw on the 15th hole during the first round at the Masters golf tournament, Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Honorary Starter Jack Nicklaus acknowledges the patrons, as fellow Honorary Starter Tom Watson applauds, on the first hole during the first round at the Masters golf tournament, Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Kevin Yu, of Taiwan, hits his tee shot on the seventh hole during the first round at the Masters golf tournament, Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Jordan Spieth looks at Tom Kim's, of South Korea, ball rest on the edge of the cup on the second hole during the first round at the Masters golf tournament, Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Tyrrell Hatton, of England, lines up a putt on the second hole during the first round at the Masters golf tournament, Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Scottie Scheffler waits to hit on the first hole during the first round at the Masters golf tournament, Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Bryson DeChambeau hits his tee shot on the 18th hole during the first round at the Masters golf tournament, Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, walks off the 18th green after the first round at the Masters golf tournament, Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Scottie Scheffler watches his tee shot on the fourth hole during the first round at the Masters golf tournament, Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Justin Rose waves after making a putt on the 18th hole during the first round at the Masters golf tournament, Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Cameron Young hits from the fairway on the second hole during the first round at the Masters golf tournament, Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Nicolai Hojgaard, Denmark, walks on the second hole during the first round at the Masters golf tournament, Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Honorary Starter Gary Player stretches on the first hole during the first round at the Masters golf tournament, Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Honorary Starter Jack Nicklaus plays his shot on the first hole during the first round at the Masters golf tournament, Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
From left: Honorary Starter Gary Player, Augusta National Chairman Fred Ridley, Honorary Starter Jack Nicklaus, and Honorary Starter Tom Watson pose on the first hole during the first round at the Masters golf tournament, Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)