HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. — The farther Justin Rose drove from Augusta Nationwide solely made him notice how shut he got here to profitable the Masters.
His cellphone saved buzzing on the way in which to Hilton Head Island, one textual content after one other, all of them with the identical message that applauded his outstanding rally and supplied commiseration and condolences for his runner-up end to Rory McIlroy.
Rose began the ultimate spherical seven pictures out of the lead, too far again to consider profitable. He made a 20-foot birdie putt on the 18th for a 66. He was in a sudden-death playoff. He misplaced on an excellent shot by McIlroy, who hit hole wedge to three toes for birdie.
It was lots to course of.
“A whole lot of outpouring from folks with loads of optimistic feedback coming at me, so attempting to soak up that, attempting to soak up the week,” Rose mentioned Wednesday on the RBC Heritage. “However on the similar time, my cellphone and simply wishing there was a distinct message there.”
This can be a path he is aware of effectively.
Rose had a two-shot lead with six holes to play within the 2017 Masters when Sergio Garcia — like McIlroy, a superb pal — made a most inconceivable rally to pressure a playoff and beat Rose on the primary additional gap.
Rose was stylish in defeat that day in 2017. He lovingly patted Garcia’s cheek, they embraced, after which Rose tapped Garcia on the center. He knew what it meant for a gifted Spaniard who had performed 70 majors earlier than profitable.
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He was equally gracious on Sunday, telling McIlroy when it was over he was blissful to witness such a momentous event of the profession Grand Slam.
It nonetheless hurts.
He looked for the precise phrases. Rose was happy with how he performed to match the low rating of the ultimate spherical with a 66. In a kind of must-make moments in a significant, he poured in a birdie on the final gap. There was lots that went proper. However there was no inexperienced jacket.
“Simply form of … do not know what the precise phrase is,” he mentioned. “Tormented, most likely, by the considered what may need been.”
He joined Ben Hogan as the one participant to lose a playoff twice on the Masters, and it may need stung worse for Rose as a result of each his losses had been in sudden-death. He now has had not less than a share of the lead after 12 rounds on the Masters, fourth on the listing behind Jack Nicklaus (19), Arnold Palmer (18) and Gary Participant (12), who’ve mixed to win 13 inexperienced jackets.
He has 23 wins worldwide, together with a significant on the U.S. Open and an Olympic gold medal in Rio de Janeiro. He additionally has the excellence of congratulating a Masters champion on the 18th inexperienced 3 times within the final 10 years — Jordan Spieth in 2015, Garcia in 2017, McIlroy on Sunday.
GolferMajorJustin RoseMastersArnold PalmerU.S. OpenMike BradyU.S. OpenBen HoganMastersBobby JonesU.S. Open
The final time he misplaced the Masters in a playoff, Rose mentioned it lingered for a couple of month. Positive, he made a number of bogeys he’d prefer to have again from the ultimate spherical Sunday. That is true for anybody at any golf event. There’s nonetheless the sting of seeing another person win.
Rose would fairly look again to what adopted after that 2017 loss. He went on to win three extra occasions that 12 months, together with his second World Golf Championships title. He received the FedEx Cup the next 12 months and rose to No. 1 on the planet for the primary time.
“If I look again to my greatest golf, 2017 August via to the top of ’18 might be probably the most persistently good golf that I’ve ever performed,” Rose mentioned. “Clearly, I used to be a little bit bit extra within the prime of my profession round that point, or you can argue extra prime.”
Rose, who turned professional as an adolescent in 1998, can be 45 on the finish of July.
“However I do not see any cause why that may’t be the identical this time round,” Rose mentioned. “I am working effectively. I am working exhausting. I am feeling good about my sport. I have been saying all 12 months that my sport is nice. I’ve simply obtained to be sure that I am taking part in persistently effectively sufficient to present myself these alternatives, as a result of majors come round … solely 4 occasions a 12 months.”
Rose can not help however suppose how little it could take for him to be going to the PGA Championship subsequent month at Quail Hole with a shot on the profession Grand Slam himself — briefly tied for the Sunday lead at Royal Troon, a playoff loss on the Masters.
“The final two majors I have been proper there and been crushed by the highest gamers on the planet on the peak of their sport,” he mentioned.
What retains him going at this stage? He may have accomplished his twenty eighth 12 months as a professional in July.
It is moments like Sunday, being within the thick of it, delivering clutch moments. There was the birdie putt on the 18th at Augusta. There was that 8-foot putt on the 18th gap on the Ryder Cup in 2023 that earned a key halve. There was that stroll up the 18th at Royal Troon final summer time with 1000’s on their toes exhibiting appreciation.
“I am near sort of some severely good things,” Rose mentioned.
