Having posted runner-up finishes in every of the previous two seasons – he was second to Xander Schauffele on the 2024 Open at Royal Troon earlier than falling to McIlroy’s play-off birdie within the Masters a yr in the past – the majors are his precedence.
There’s an Open at Royal Birkdale in July, the venue the place he introduced himself by chipping in on the final to complete fourth as a 17-year-old novice in 1998. However the Masters has further resonance given his exceptional file there.
He has been runner-up 3 times, having shared second place with Phil Mickelson behind Jordan Spieth in 2015.
A file 5 occasions, together with final yr, he has held the first-round lead and on 9 events has led or collectively led the sport’s most glamorous event.
No golfer is owed something by any venue or any event, however Rose is as entitled as anybody to name in some Augusta favours. Final yr it was a 3 over par third spherical that proved his undoing.
He partnered Bryson DeChambeau, who performed himself into the ultimate pairing with McIlroy whereas Rose went backwards after holding the midway lead with opening rounds of 65 and 71.
“I really performed means higher than Bryson that day, however his quick recreation was nice,” Rose informed me. “He turned a 75 into 69 and I turned 69 into 75.
“It was a kind of days once you come off and realise you’ve got given away too many low-cost ones. I did dwell to rue that for certain.
“I needed to decide myself up. I needed to change my mindset coming into Sunday, reframe every little thing and never make it concerning the event, simply make it about Augusta Nationwide.
“I needed to keep in mind how particular Sunday is there it doesn’t matter what place you might be in. I performed with lots of gratitude on that Sunday which put me in a pleasant free mindset which clearly led to some nice golf.”
Whereas McIlroy was travelling on one in all golf’s most dramatic rollercoaster rides, Rose slotted putt after putt, particularly on the inward half. “Ten birdies on a Sunday at Augusta was significantly superb golf,” stated Rose.
“Holing that birdie putt on 18 to offer myself an opportunity after which two nice swings within the play-off.”
He was inches from making birdie within the shootout, unfortunate that his ball didn’t tumble down the slope to the hole-side in the identical means as McIlroy’s strategy managed to do.
“That can present good reminiscences for me and a optimistic expertise as a lot because it stings,” Rose stated.
In the end the second belonged to McIlroy, however Rose gained plaudits not only for his golf however his gracious sportsmanship, embracing the victor regardless of the massive disappointment of one more close to miss.
“Folks have been actually variety to me after that,” Rose stated. “I used to be simply voicing how I felt.
“I had discovered quite a bit from the 2017 play-off. I managed what I felt like I might management. I made good swings. I executed underneath the stress and typically you possibly can’t make the ball do precisely what you need it to do.
“However you recognize should you’ve completed a very good job or not. So I believe due to that I used to be capable of be completely satisfied for Rory within the second. And clearly to witness historical past, separate your self out of your feelings for a second, it was a cool enviornment to be in.”
This will likely be Rose’s twenty first try at Augusta. How becoming it could be this Sunday if he have been he to discover a solution to come of age as a Masters champion.
