Masters runner-up reactions vary, depending on the green jacket winner

AUGUSTA, Ga. — On Sunday night, when the latest Masters Tournament champion is crowned, there will be a runner-up – or more than one – left to explain their feelings about why they weren’t the player slipping on the green jacket.

Over the years, there have been numerous explanations by those who came up short that can be filed into various categories.

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Here are some of them:

Wish I'd won but glad (insert winner) prevailed

Justin Rose (2025), after losing a playoff to Rory McIlroy, who won to complete the career Grand Slam: “This is a historic moment in golf, isn't it, someone who achieves the career Grand Slam. I just said it was pretty cool to be able to share that moment with him. Obviously I wanted to be the bad guy today, but still, it's a momentous occasion for the game of golf.”

Justin Rose and Rory McIlroy shake hands after McIlroy won the 2025 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.

I’m young and it was a good learning experience

Ludvig Aberg (2024), runner-up at age 24: “First of all, playing here at Augusta National is a dream come true. Just to be in this situation and feel the nerves and feel the pressure walking down the last couple holes is what you dream of. This is what I have been wanting to do for such a long time, and it's quite surreal to actually have the opportunity to experience it. But I'm so proud of me, myself and all of the people on my team and my family and everyone involved.”

I'm young and I know I can win it now

Will Zalatoris (2021), runner-up at age 24: “I can play with the best players in the world. I felt like I played well this week, but I felt like I left a lot out there. The first one's coming. I've just got to keep plotting. Obviously, for my first time to really be in contention to be at the Masters is pretty special. I think the fact that I'm frustrated I finished second in my third major says something, and the fact that I didn't let any moment really get to me, was really exciting. And obviously my two majors as a pro, I finished sixth and runner-up. I know if I keep doing what I doing, I'm going to have a really good chance in the future.”

Things didn’t go my way

Brooks Koepka (2023), co-runnerup with Phil Mickelson: “Hit some shots where I also feel like I didn't get some good breaks, the ball on 9; on 4 and 6, hit some good shots and just ended up in some terrible spots where it was quite difficult. Didn't feel like I did too much wrong, but that's how golf goes sometimes.”

Time is on my side

Rory McIlroy (2022), where he lost by three shots: “So you know, I'll keep coming back here year after year until I get the hang of this thing and hopefully get one. But it was a great week all around and all I can take are the positives from it.”

Time might be running out for me

Phil Mickelson (2023), at age 52: “It was a fun day, and you just never know what can happen.”

I got beat

McIlroy (2023), when he lost to Scheffler: “Yeah, and I played a really, really good round of golf. I knew it would take something incredible to try to at least give Scottie something to think about. I thought I had maybe done that with holing that bunker shot on the last. I got to within three at that point. But then Scottie's just been sort of. So you know, hats off to him. He's sort of been head and shoulders above everyone else this week and I played great today and I've actually had a really, really good weekend. I'm proud of my performance."

Disappointment

Koepka (2023), when he closed with 75: “Yeah, obviously it's super disappointing, right. Didn't play good enough to win.”

David Westin is a recipient of the Masters Major Achievement Award and has covered every tournament at Augusta National Golf Club since 1979 for The Augusta Chronicle. He also caddied at the club for a time.

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Masters runner-up golfers reaction is based on who they lost to