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.

'My game good enough to compete with best'

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."

Rose suffered two missed cuts in the wake of his San Diego victory in February but then performed well to finish in a share of 13th at last month's prestigious Players Championship. Nothing spectacular, but solid golf in a very demanding environment.

And that is textbook Rose. The 2013 US Open champion is tougher than most and despite his longevity still relishes the fight for the biggest titles, the ones that are hardest to win.

"I'm pretty good at gearing up for the weeks I want to play well and I think having that sort of experience to do that," he said.

Leading into the Masters, Rose made a schedule switch, dropping his original plan to play last week's Texas Open to concentrate on readying himself for the demands of Augusta.

"I'd love to find a way to play well every single week," he said. "But if I can find a way to hone in on the weeks that I really want to play well, that would be enough for me to chase down some of the goals I have left in my career."

'Ten birdies on a Sunday at Augusta was seriously amazing'

Image caption,

Rose won plaudits not just for his golf but his gracious sportsmanship in congratulating McIlroy with such gusto

Having posted runner-up finishes in each of the past two seasons - he was second to Xander Schauffele at the 2024 Open at Royal Troon before falling to McIlroy's play-off birdie in the Masters a year ago - the majors are his priority.

There's an Open at Royal Birkdale in July, the venue where he announced himself by chipping in at the last to finish fourth as a 17-year-old amateur in 1998. But the Masters has extra resonance given his remarkable record there.

He has been runner-up three times, having shared second place with Phil Mickelson behind Jordan Spieth in 2015.

A record five times, including last year, he has held the first-round lead and on nine occasions has led or jointly led the game's most glamorous tournament.

No golfer is owed anything by any venue or any tournament, but Rose is as entitled as anyone to call in some Augusta favours. Last year it was a three over par third round that proved his undoing.

He partnered Bryson DeChambeau, who played himself into the final pairing with McIlroy while Rose went backwards after holding the halfway lead with opening rounds of 65 and 71.

"I actually played way better than Bryson that day, but his short game was great," Rose told me. "He turned a 75 into 69 and I turned 69 into 75.

"It was one of those days when you come off and realise you've given away too many cheap ones. I did live to rue that for sure.

"I had to pick myself up. I had to change my mindset coming into Sunday, reframe everything and not make it about the tournament, just make it about Augusta National.

"I had to remember how special Sunday is there no matter what position you are in. I played with a lot of gratitude on that Sunday which put me in a nice free mindset which obviously led to some great golf."

While McIlroy was travelling on one of golf's most dramatic rollercoaster rides, Rose slotted putt after putt, especially on the inward half. "Ten birdies on a Sunday at Augusta was seriously amazing golf," said Rose.

"Holing that birdie putt on 18 to give myself a chance and then two great swings in the play-off."

He was inches from making birdie in the shootout, unlucky that his ball did not tumble down the slope to the hole-side in the same way as McIlroy's approach managed to do.

"That will provide good memories for me and a positive experience as much as it stings," Rose said.

Ultimately the moment belonged to McIlroy, but Rose won plaudits not just for his golf but his gracious sportsmanship, embracing the victor despite the huge disappointment of yet another near miss.

"People were really kind to me after that," Rose said. "I was just voicing how I felt.

"I had learned a lot from the 2017 play-off. I controlled what I felt like I could control. I made good swings. I executed under the pressure and sometimes you can't make the ball do exactly what you want it to do.

"But you know if you've done a good job or not. So I think because of that I was able to be happy for Rory in the moment. And obviously to witness history, separate yourself from your emotions for a moment, it was a cool arena to be in."

This will be Rose's 21st attempt at Augusta. How fitting it would be this Sunday if he were he to find a way to come of age as a Masters champion.