For the second consecutive year and the fourth time in his pursuit of a green jacket, Justin Rose entered Sunday at The Masters firmly in contention.
After losing in a playoff last year to Rory McIlroy, Rose briefly held a two-shot lead on Sunday at 12-under par. However, that advantage quickly slipped away as McIlroy began to string together birdies, while Rose made bogeys on three of his final five holes. He ultimately finished at 10-under, tied for fourth.
McIlroy went on to win back-to-back titles at 12-under, while Scottie Scheffler surged into solo second at 11-under.
“I’ll just keep knocking on that door,” Rose posted on social media after the tournament. “See you next year Augusta! Congratulations Rory for going back-to-back. Thank you for all the support.”
After coming so close once again, moving on can be a challenge. However, for many PGA Tour players, there’s little time to dwell, as the RBC Heritage is set to begin Thursday at Harbour Town Golf Links.
Justin Rose, who was originally in the field, has officially withdrawn from the tournament as of Monday and will be replaced by Michael Thorbjornsen.
Other notable golfers set to compete in the tournament after playing in The Masters — at least for now — include Shane Lowry, Xander Schauffele, Jordan Spieth, Tommy Fleetwood, and Cameron Young. Scheffler is also expected to be in the field after winning the tournament in 2024.