Justin Rose is focused on winning the RBC Heritage this week at Hilton Head Island, but he would be lying if he said he was completely over what went down on Augusta National Golf Club last weekend.
Rose was contrary to his first career green jacket on Masters, and he hit a deep birdie-putt on his 72 hole in the tournament to finish 11-under and put pressure on Rory McIlroy.
McIlroy missed his pair of putt on the 18th green to force a playoff, a position rose had been in with Sergio Garcia in 2017. Unfortunately for Rose, the result was the same.
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Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose shake their hands after an playoffs on the 18th green during the final round of Masters at the Augusta National Golf Club. (Peter Casey/Imag- Pictures)
Just as Garcia did, McIlroy Rose defeated the playoffs to end his career Grand Slam by winning the 89th edition of the tournament.
Rose talked to journalists Wednesday at RBC Heritage.
“A lot of outflow from people with a lot of positive comments that come to me, then try to absorb it and try to absorb the week,” Rose said. “But at the same time to look at my phone and just wish there was another message there.”
Justin Rose responds to the results of the last 2 major tournaments: ‘It hurts’
When Rose fell to McIlroy, his grace in defeat was the same Golffans saw when Garcia defeated Rose in 2017. Garcia gathered to tie Rose that year, and after taking him down to the playoffs, they embraced with Rose, who recognized how much it meant Garcia.
After McIlroy rose from his knees after his green jacket seal, he approached Rose, and the two had a strong embrace. Rose knew how much the victory meant to the career of McIlroy, who became the sixth golfer to complete a career grand slam.
But it was also Roses 20. Masters without winning a green jacket. He had come close to the past, and after striking the birdie putt to give himself a chance, he seemed ready for the jacket.
Justin Rose leaves with his partner, Kate, after placing number two in an playoffs of the 18th green against Rory McIlroy during the final round of Masters at Augusta National Golf Club. (Grace Smith/Imag- Pictures)
On the playoff hole, he put pressure on McIlroy twice with a fantastic drive from the 18th tee in the middle of the fairway, and his approach shot gave him a close look at Birdie.
But McIlroy, with ice in his own veins, bombed his drive and put his approach inside two feet after turning it out of the slope behind the hole. Rose gave his birdie to see a chance, but it curled himself too far to the right and he knocked into pairs. McIlroy did not miss this time.
“Don’t know what the right word is,” Rose said as he was asked to describe how he feels to look back on Masters Week. “Plagued by the thought of what could have been.”
Rose’s golf career doesn’t seem to slower anytime soon. He turns 45 in July and he wants his own green jacket one day.
Justin Rose is celebrating after putting Birdie and completing his round during the final round of Masters at the Augusta National Golf Club. (Kyle Terada/Imag images)
For the time being, he will have to look ahead and start this week at Harbor Town Golf Links, where the RBC Heritage has a purse of $ 20 million.
The next major will be the PGA championship, which Rose has never won at Quail Hollow next month.
