It was a week of highs and lows for Justin Rose, who, after falling down the leader board on Saturday, was within touching distance of denying Rory McIlroy’s career grand slam.
After recording a six-under par 66 on the final day, Rose forced a playoff with Rory McIlroy.
Unfortunately for the Englishman, he could not grasp the green jacket, with McIlroy birdieing the opening playoff hole to take the win.
It marked a career-defining achievement for the Northern Irishman, becoming just the sixth man to achieve the career grand slam, and the first since Tiger Woods.
This weekend stood as Justin Rose’s second runner-up finish within a year, placing T2 at 2024’s Open Championship in July, and Rose is finding his defeat tough to come to terms with.
Justin Rose admits Sunday’s defeat has left him feeling ‘tormented’
Despite the Rider Cup veterans’ form, at 44 years old there are doubts over just how much is left in the tank.
Rose has had many close calls, and eventually, that has to begin to take a toll on the star.
Speaking on his defeat, Rose reveals how difficult it has been to come to terms with the loss.
“Having been in that situation before and even more this time, I could really sense what it would be like to win it. I was right there on the edge of winning it obviously,” he stated in a press conference ahead of the RBC Heritage.
“I certainly don’t feel down in any way, shape or form because of the performance I was able to put in and how I was able to feel putting in that performance, but just sort of… tormented probably by the thought of what might have been.”
Rose feels he made no major mistakes at Augusta National
Despite eventually losing out to the world number two, Rose’s Sunday performance was nothing short of spectacular.
After starting the day seven shots behind the leader, the former U.S. Open champion, made birdie after birdie in a last ditch dive for Masters glory.
Mistakes from McIlroy certainly helped. However, nothing can be taken away from the runner up’s determined effort.
His dogged-persistence launched him right back into the fire fight, and if it wasn’t for a moment of brilliance from McIlroy on his second shot of the playoff, the outcome could have been vastly different.
Reflecting on his performance, Rose feels he did everything required to win.
“The last two majors I’ve been right there and been beaten by the top players in the world at the peak of their game.
“But on both occasions I’ve felt like I’ve stepped up, I’ve hit the shots, I’ve played well, I’ve felt great, and I’m doing the right things to win. So just got to keep the level high enough to keep creating those opportunities.”
Justin Rose will be back in action less than a week after his harsh loss to McIlroy, taking to the tee-box at Harbour Town Golf Course as part of the RBC Heritage against a stacked field including Scottie Scheffler and Ludvig Aberg.
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