Justin Rose is still processing the events that unfolded at last weekend’s Masters. Both the highs and the lows. But he isn’t letting himself feel ‘down’ about the agonising result.
In the week that has followed one of the most incredible tournaments that has ever played out at Augusta National, the 2013 US Open Champion’s phone has blown up with messages, and while he was elated by the ‘outpouring’ of comments, the Englishman wishes they were sending him a different message instead.
After that fateful Sunday at Augusta, Rose, who is certain to challenge for more titles this year, has been hailed by many for the classy gesture he paid to Rory Mcilroyon the 18th green at Augusta.
‘I just said to him [McIlroy] this is a historic moment in golf. It’s pretty cool to share that moment with him,’ the 11-time PGA Tour winner said after Sunday’s play-off.
‘Obviously, I wanted to be the bad guy today but still, it’s a momentous occasion for the game of golf.’
At the age of 44, Rose is playing some of the golf of his life and ahead of this week’s RBC Heritage in South Carolina, the Englishman said he was hungry to keep fighting, despite having found himself in this agonising situation before – finishing as a runner-up at The Masters three times during his distinguished career.
Justin Rose says he is ‘very motivated’ to continue battling for titles as he prepares to tee up at the RBC Heritage this week
Rose (right) said that he has been processing the emotions of losing a play-off against Rory McIlroy (left) over the past four days
He added there had been ‘mixed emotions’, stating that while he was not ‘down’ by the agonising result had left him feeling ‘tormented’
‘I think it’s definitely been one to process a little bit,’ he said, reflecting on how this week had felt.
‘Mixed emotions for sure,’ Rose added. ‘That’s probably the… a lot of outpouring from people with a lot of positive comments coming at me, so trying to absorb that, trying to absorb the week, but at the same time looking at my phone and just wishing there was a different message there.
‘A lot of heartfelt commiserations and things like that. Clearly having been in situations like that before and even more this time could really sense what it would be like to win it, and felt like I was right there on the edge of winning it, obviously.
‘I certainly don’t feel down in any way, shape or form just 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 – I don’t know what the right word is – tormented probably, by the thought of what might have been.’
But Rose, who will tee off on Thursday at Harbour Town Golf Links alongside Aussie star Min Woo Lee, has no regrets about the way he played.
‘Obviously just bouncing back and forth with those two emotions. But certainly, I think no regrets. You can lose a golf tournament and there are a million things that you think I should have done this differently.
‘There’s not really much I can look back and say: “I should have done that differently on the day”.
‘It’s more just like wish it would have added up to a different result than wish I would have done things differently.’
This weekend, Rose’s comments after missing out on a Green Jacket to McIlroy (pictured) showed why the Englishman is class personified and a great sportsman
Aside from his runners-up finish 2013 US Open champion enjoyed another brilliant performance at Augusta, notably carding 10 birdies to post a card of 66 on Sunday
The Englishman’s putting was simply sensational, with the 11-time PGA Tour winner holing a monster putt on the 18th green on Sunday to send the patrons into delirium
After claiming the lead following 36 holes, the Englishman fell back down the leaderboard on Saturday, carding five bogeys to end his third round at T6 on the leaderboard.
But his resilience shone through on Sunday. Rose came out of his corner ready to fight for the Green Jacket – despite admitting that he only thought about winning the coveted title late into his round. His putting was extraordinary with the Englishman finishing the day with a whopping 10 birdies on his card – notably coming through Amen Corner three-under-par after draining a monster putt on the 11th hole from around 30-feet.
Despite bogeys on 14 and 17, he ended his round in stunning fashion, sending the patrons into delirium on the 18th hole by draining another distance putt, to card a final round of 66.
Interestingly, Rose, who has won 11 times on the PGA Tour, revealed he hadn’t thought about winning the Green Jacket up until late into his round.
‘It was one of the most fun days I’ve ever had on the golf course,’ Rose said. ‘I felt like mindset-wise at the start of the day, would have said probably starting seven back, wasn’t really thinking about winning the tournament.
‘I Was thinking about what it means to play at Augusta on Sunday and it’s a very special day no matter what, and I feel like I just got into my round quite nicely from the beginning.
‘But then from around Amen Corner, which is probably the most special stretch of golf that there is, just went to this different place and things just started to flow for me and started to think that we were on to something really big.
‘I didn’t really track Rory’s round hole by hole, but then definitely got the sense on 16 that I was right in it and had an opportunity to sort of put some heat on it and to potentially win.’
Rose said that he has no regrets over the way he played on Sunday at Augusta National
Rose, 44, is playing some of the best golf of his life right now and perhaps that comes down to his belief in his golf game
The former world No 1 has now risen from 39th to 12th in the Official World Golf Rankings, and at the age of 44, he revealed what’s motivating him to keep battling for titles.
‘It’s just the belief that I still can have these special moments in the game is what I’m calling them. I think little things like holing the putt on the Friday at the 2023 Ryder Cup with all the team around me, that’s a moment I’ll remember. That’s a special moment.
‘Even the Open Championship was special walking down 18, being right in it, holing the putt at Augusta on 18 on Sunday and seeing the crowd stand up. Those are special moments.
‘Yeah, I want it to be accompanied with the requisite trophy, as well – don’t get me wrong. But the reason I’m playing is to sort of feel those moments that really matter in your career and in your life.
‘I believe the point is the reason I’m working hard enough to do it is because I still have that belief that it’s possible. I think that that’s why these weeks are important for me still is that it’s just reaffirming that it’s still possible.’
At the start of 2025, multiple European players are trending upwards in form, right on cue ahead of September’s Ryder Cup.
Only two Europeans had won events on the PGA Tour last year, heading into the RBC Heritage. This time around, they have won seven of the first 16 tournaments on the US circuit, with McIlroy winning at Pebble Beach, Sawgrass and Augusta.
And there was a lot to be excited about this weekend from the European contingent. Outside of Rose and McIlroy, a resurgent Jon Rahm looked to be trending in the right direction with his performances over the weekend. While he just faded in his final round on Sunday, Ludvig Aberg looks back to his best after slumping to back-to-back missed cuts on the PGA Tour coming into The Masters. Tyrrell Hatton also placed T14, while Shane Lowry, barring his final round, also seriously impressed through 54 holes.
Rose, though, played down hype around the European side, noting that the side has not won in the US since Medinah in 2012 and will, this year, play out the biennial tournament on the ominous Bethpage Black course.
He also played down hype around the European Ryder Cup team, adding there’s a long way to go before Luke Donald’s (pictured) side tee up at Bethpage
Ludvig Aberg (pictured) enjoyed an excellent tournament this week, rebounding after two missed cuts on the PGA Tour
Thomas Detry (left) and Sepp Straka (right) have also both claimed victories on the PGA Tour this season
‘Obviously, it’s been noticed this year amongst us, the Europeans, that we’re playing well,’ Rose said.
‘There’s a lot of guys really contending for tournaments. There’s a lot of guys playing some good golf. That’s great to see. It’s great to see that the boys are really adapting to the PGA TOUR, even some of the newer guys. ‘They’re beginning to sort of week in, week out, put up good performances. Obviously from a winning point of view, Rory has obviously had a great start to the year. His name has been up there a lot. Sepp Straka winning, things like that, it’s been good to see.
‘But I don’t know if it matters right now. The Ryder Cup is a long way away. I think there’s good energy around our team and what we’re sort of trying to gear up for. By no means do we underestimate the task at hand.
‘I think going to New York, we all know what a challenge that’s going to be, and I think we all know it’s going to have to be a fully firing European team to have a chance there.
‘So far, so good there for sure. There’s definitely good form amongst the boys. But you can only hope that that continues into the months that matter right before the Ryder Cup.
‘But I think on track. I think if I was Luke Donald right now I’d be looking at my team going, okay, the boys are… everything is according to plan at this present moment in time.’