Masters 2026: Why a Justin Rose win at Augusta National is long overdue
A runner-up finisher in each of the last two seasons, he was runner-up to Xander Schauffele in the 2024 Open at Royal Troon before falling to McIlroy’s play-off bird at the Masters a year ago. His priority is adults.
There is an Open at Royal Birkdale in July where he established himself as a 17-year-old amateur in 1998, starting last and finishing fourth. But the Masters has extra resonance given his remarkable record here.
In 2015, he finished second three times, sharing second place with Phil Mickelson after Jordan Spieth.
He has held the first-round lead a record five times, including last year, and led or jointly led the game’s grandest tournament nine times.
No golfer owes any money to any venue or tournament, but Rose has as much right as anyone to ask Augusta for help. A third round three over par last year proved to be his undoing.
In the final pairing with McIlroy, he partnered Bryson DeChambeau, who was playing himself, while Rose dropped back after holding onto the lead at the halfway mark with opening rounds of 65 and 71.
“I actually played a lot better than Bryson that day, but his short game was great,” Rose told me. “He turned 75 into 69, and I turned 69 into 75.
“It was one of those days when you realize you’ve given too many cheap gifts. I’ve certainly lived to regret it.
“I had to pull myself together. Come Sunday, I had to change my mindset, reframe everything and make it not about the tournament, but just about Augusta National.
“I had to remember how special Sunday was no matter what position you were in. I played that Sunday with a great sense of gratitude and that put me in a free mindset and that obviously led to some great golf.”
As McIlroy went on one of golf’s most dramatic rollercoaster rides, Rose made putt after putt, especially on the inside half. “The elevendie on a Sunday in August was really great golf,” Rose said.
“I make that birdie putt on 18 to give myself a chance and then make two great putts in the playoff.”
He was inches away from making birdie in the shootout, and was unlucky his ball didn’t roll down the slope to the hole edge in the same way as McIlroy’s approach.
“This will provide me with good memories and an experience that is as positive as it is painful,” Rose said.
Ultimately the moment belonged to McIlroy, but Rose was applauded not only for his golf but also for his gracious sportsmanship in embracing the winner despite the huge disappointment of another narrow miss.
“People were really nice to me after that,” Rose said. “I was just voicing how I felt.
“I learned a lot from the 2017 playoffs. I controlled what I felt I could control. I made good shots. I shot under pressure and sometimes you can’t make the ball do exactly what you want it to do.
“But you know if you did a good job or not. So I think I was able to be happy for Rory in that moment. And of course, witnessing history was a great arena to separate yourself from your emotions for a moment.”
This will be Rose’s 21st attempt at Augusta. How fitting it would be this Sunday if he finds a way to come of age as Masters champion.
