Justin Rose’s classy message to Rory McIlroy just moments after Masters play-off drama

Justin Rose was on the wrong side of history as he was beaten in a Masters play-off by Rory McIlroy but told his fellow European that he was glad to share the iconic moment

Justin Rose told Rory McIlroy it was “pretty cool” to be able to share golf history with him at the Masters – even if he was on the wrong end of the play-off drama. The Englishman confessed he was hoping to be “the bad guy” as he went after his first Green Jacket.

Rose carded a six-under par round 66 to roar back into contention and a birdie at the last saw him become the clubhouse leader. McIlroy’s bogey on 18 meant the duo, who have been Ryder Cup team-mates for more than a decade, had to do battle.

The Northern Irishman ultimately won out, coming up with a birdie on the first play-off hole, as he rewrote the history books with victory at the major that had eluded him.

McIlroy ticked three of the four by 2014 and had to deal with the annual pressure of trying to seal the deal at Augusta National. The 35-year-old let the emotion pour out after his victory with Rose glad to have been part of it.

He said: “I just said, listen, this is a historic moment in golf, isn’t it, someone who achieves the career Grand Slam. I said it was pretty cool to be able to share that moment with him. Obviously I wanted to be the bad guy today, but still, it’s a momentous occasion for the game of golf.”

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It is the second time in Rose’s career that he’s been denied Masters victory in a play-off – the other coming back in 2017. On that occasion the Englishman was undone by Sergio Garcia and his latest defeat means he’s again come up second best at Augusta as he looks to add to the US Open in 2013.

“It’s definitely tough, but I bounced back pretty well from that, too. I went on to be world number one after that so I used it to my advantage,” he said. “Last two majors I’ve played I’ve come up in second place, but it’s exactly what I’m trying to do with my career at this stage. It’s more evidence that I’m doing some really good work.”

Rose had established himself as the first round leader before he fell away going into the final round. Few had him competing but he produced 10 birdies during a stunning effort on Sunday. Six of his final eight holes were birdied, but he carded bogeys on 14 and 17, with Rose admitting his final 18 weren’t without their errors.

He said: “Today was an unbelievable round of golf. If I look back at yesterday, I played unbelievable golf and the putter went stone cold on me. Today I just really began to feel that confidence come back with the putter, which is unbelievable. Ten birdies on a golf course I thought was playing quite tricky, greens were firm and crusty, but with that came a few mistakes here and there.”

Patrick Reed, the champion in 2018, ended up finishing third after he too posted an impressive round on Sunday. Last year’s winner Scottie Scheffler was looking to join an exclusive group of people who’d retained the Masters, but ultimately finished up in fourth.