Why it's time for Rose to come of age at Masters
To come close to matching the romance of Rory McIlroy's magical Masters then surely the Green Jacket in 2026 has to go to the man beaten in the play-off 12 months ago. While McIlroy's relief and joy at finally landing the one major to elude him came pouring out on the 18th green, Justin Rose watched on - wondering what might have been. "Augusta was painful, but at the same time I was proud at how I played," the 45-year-old Englishman told BBC Sport.
Rose had played some of the best final day golf ever seen at Augusta National; 10 birdies, six of them on an inspired back nine. He came home in 32, birdieing the last for a sparkling 66 to tie the low total of the week at 11 under par. It was the second time he had suffered play-off heartbreak at the hands of a European Ryder Cup team-mate, having lost to Sergio Garcia in 2017.
"I learned a lot from the Sergio play-off and put it into practice, but it wasn't to be," said Rose. In the field for this week's 90th Masters there will be no player seeking a first Augusta crown with a better pedigree. He would be the second oldest winner after Jack Nicklaus - who 40 years ago extended his own records with a sixth win and 18th major - if the wait for a Green Jacket finally ends this Sunday.
And why not? Despite his age, Rose remains a top-10 player who statistically played the best golf of anyone in helping Europe to a first away win since 2012 in last year's Ryder Cup. He beat a top class field and defeated US Open champion JJ Spaun in a play-off in the first of the PGA Tour's end-of-season play-off events in Memphis last August.
Then, in February, romped to victory by seven shots at Torrey Pines. "Getting back in the winners circle in big events on the PGA Tour is testament that my game is still good enough to compete with the best players," Rose said. "And just knowing that gives me the motivation to continue to work hard and to keep believing in myself.