Justin Rose admits he feels “tormented” by a feeling of what might have been after losing a second Masters play-off.
Eight years after missing out to Sergio Garcia at Augusta National, Rose was beaten on the first extra hole by Rory McIlroy, who holed from short range for birdie after Rose’s attempt had narrowly missed.
Rose had started the final round seven shots behind McIlroy, but made his 10th birdie of the day on the 18th in a closing 66 to set the clubhouse target, with McIlroy then missing from five feet for the title in regulation.
“Mixed emotions for sure,” Rose, who also finished second behind Jordan Spieth in 2015 and was runner-up in the Open Championship at Royal Troon last year, said of his reflections on the Masters in a press conference ahead of the RBC Heritage at Hilton Head.
“A lot of outpouring from people with a lot of positive comments coming at me so trying to absorb that and absorb the week, but the same time looking at my phone and wishing there was a different message there.
“Having been in that situation before and even more this time, I could really sense what it would be like to win it. I was right there on the edge of winning it obviously.
“I certainly don’t feel down because of the performance I was able to put in and how I was able to feel putting in that performance, but just sort of…don’t know what the right word is, tormented probably by the thought of what might have been.
“I take that loss pretty badly. But listen, I was a stone’s throw away from winning the Open, winning the Masters. I would have been going for a Grand Slam at the PGA. It’s like, it can be that close. I’ve got to believe that.
“The last two majors I’ve been right there and been beaten by the top players in the world at the peak of their game.
“But on both occasions I’ve felt like I’ve stepped up, I’ve hit the shots, I’ve played well, I’ve felt great, and I’m doing the right things to win. So just got to keep the level high enough to keep creating those opportunities.”
