Justin Rose has 3 runner-up finishes at the Masters. He sees that as a good sign
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Justin Rose, the player who missed the cut 21 straight times to start his professional career, has a knack for seeing the glass half-full. Rose is 45 — only four players older than him have won major championships — and yet he prefers to refer to his “Indian summer” of playing great golf at this stage in his career.
Evidence can be found three months ago when he beat a strong field at Torrey Pines. He became a footnote in Masters history last year when Rory McIlroy beat him in a playoff, making Rose the only player to have twice lost in a playoff at Augusta National without ever having won the Masters green jacket. The consolation — fine print, at that — is getting his name etched three times on the Masters trophy because the club lists the runner-up each year.
The playoff loss to McIlroy. A more crushing playoff loss to Sergio Garcia in 2017. A runner-up by four shots to Jordan Spieth in 2015.
All that means to Rose is he knows his way around Augusta National, and that’s the inspiration he brings to the Masters this year. “I’m very aware that I’ve been close here,” Rose said. “I’m very aware that I’ve had tough, tough losses here.
I also am aware that I enjoy this place. I don’t want to feel that those three second-place finishes need to create a different sort of feeling for me. ” The record for winning the silver salver awarded to the runner-up without ever having Tuesday night plans at the Masters Club dinner is held by the late Tom Weiskopf, four times a bridesmaid.