Masters 2026: Some of Justin Rose’s most important work is happening between shots
The golfer's sustained success is about more than technique.
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Listen closely to Justin Rose discuss his play through two days of the 2026 Masters, and there are clues to his success. Rose, competing for the 21st time at Augusta National, touched on his process and routine.
He referenced "flow," and also how he prefers to tackle the shot in front of him. “I need to see it,” Rose said when describing his tee shot on the fifth hole. “I need to drive the vision of what we want to do.
” Even in cursory descriptions, Rose was offering a window into a mental approach that has contributed to his sustained success at age 45, with another shot at a first green jacket this weekend. The obvious elements were on display Friday: elite ball-striking (he gained nearly five strokes on approach for the round) and timely putting, with the fitness of a player a decade younger. But Rose’s work with performance coach Jason Goldsmith has been an essential ingredient as well.
With the Masters in the balance, both men are reluctant to dive deeply into the specifics of their work together. Broadly, Goldsmith says most of his work with his clients focuses on shifting a golfer into an athletic mode and not fixating on technique. “You want to be able to connect to your target without relying on words,” Goldsmith said.