Justin Rose falters at Augusta National
Justin Rose experienced another painful near-miss at Augusta National, watching a two-shot advantage slip away during the final round of the Masters. The 45-year-old Englishman had surged into the lead after recording four birdies across five holes through the ninth, appearing poised to finally claim the green jacket, reports BritPanorama.
However, disaster struck at the notorious Amen Corner stretch, where Rose dropped consecutive shots at the 11th and 12th holes. The collapse proved terminal to his title hopes, with the three-time runner-up unable to recover his earlier form.
Rose admitted after the round that he felt it was yet another “chance that got away.” He stated, “I was really in control. The mentality was to run through the finish line not just try and get it done. I was playing great, but just momentum shifted for me around the Amen Corner.”
Despite the damaging bogeys, Rose identified a different hole as pivotal to his undoing. After finding the green at the par-five 13th with an excellent approach shot, he inexplicably took three putts to hole out for par. “Just maybe off the back of two bogeys that was the one moment where four there really settles things down and gets me right back in it,” he explained.
Throughout the round, the veteran golfer maintained an aggressive strategy rather than attempting to protect his lead. He also expressed his gratitude for the support received from spectators all week at Augusta, stating, “The crowd was amazing to me all week long. They pulled for me all week long. I felt their encouragement and support.” However, he acknowledged that the atmosphere changed as his challenge faded, with enthusiasm giving way to a more subdued mood. “At the end it kind of goes a little flat. It’s more of a sympathy than anything,” he noted.
Rose’s final round of two-under-par 70 left him sharing third place on 10 under, alongside three other competitors. Rory McIlroy clinched victory on 12 under, defeating Rose for the second consecutive year following their playoff encounter at the 2025 Masters. Scottie Scheffler, the 2022 and 2024 champion, secured second place on 11 under after mounting a remarkable weekend charge from 12 shots adrift, finishing with consecutive bogey-free rounds of 65 and 68.
In the end, while Augusta held its breath during Rose’s bid for glory, it also served as a reminder of the razor-thin line between triumph and disappointment in the sport — a line he knows all too well.
