Justin Rose is aiming to become one of the oldest golfers ever to win the Masters — just behind one of the most legendary golfers of all time.
Rose surged into an unlikely lead on Sunday, vaulting him over Rory McIlroy and Cameron Young late in the afternoon. After losing a heartbreaker to McIlroy last year, Rose has the chance to etch his name in the record books as the second-oldest golfer ever to win at Augusta.
Justin Rose’s Senior Surge at the Masters
Nicklaus became the oldest golfer to win at the Masters when he earned his sixth green jacket in 1986 at the age of 46. The 45-year-old Rose would be the second-oldest, though he’s come close to breaking through twice in the past.
Rose landed in second place three times, including two playoff losses — falling in 2017 to Sergio Garcia and last year to McIlroy.
Rose said the losses were on his mind ahead of this year’s Masters.
“I’m very aware that I’ve been close here,” Rose told reporters on Monday, via the PGA Tour’s official website. “I’m very aware that I’ve had tough, tough losses here. I also am aware that I enjoy this place. I don’t want to feel that those three second-place finishes need to create a different sort of feeling for me.”
Rose added that he’s gained an understanding of the course at Augusta, and feels loose in not dwelling on the times he came up just short in the past.
“I don’t think about age on a day-to-day level,” Rose said. “Happy that the narrative around it is more positive than negative, for the most part. Definitely there is some motivation there to kind of keep going, keep pushing, try to find new habits, new ways of trying to get better, realizing that that’s a pretty difficult ambition to sort of get better at this stage of my career.”
Justin Rose Close to First Masters Win
After shooting 3-under 69 on Saturday to put him within a shot of the lead, Rose said he was ready for the final round.
“I’m comfortable here but never complacent,” Rose said, via USA Today. “I feel like there’s always something to learn, something to push for. You’ve always got to respect the golf course.”
Rose added that he feels motivated by last year’s playoff loss to McIlroy, saying he could see how close he was to a victory before coming up short.
“There was definitely a what might have (been) – when you realize you’re that close, you can taste the victory,” he explained. “You know what it would feel like had it been the other way around. I could see what it felt like. I can see the celebrations. It all played out right in front of me.”
Rose added that he was able to feel the emotions of a win, getting him more prepared for what this year would bring.
“So I kind of lived it as if I’d have won it, but obviously without any of the real positive emotion that goes with that, but I kind of sensed everything,” he said.
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