Justin Rose reveals what he told Rory McIlroy after Masters play-off

In the immediate aftermath of his defeat on Sunday, Justin Rose had a classy message for Rory McIlroy.

Long-time friends and Ryder Cup teammates, the pair ended one of the most memorable Masters clashes in recent history in a dramatic play-off at Augusta National.

McIlroy, of course, prevailed to win the Green Jacket – his fifth major triumph and first since 2014 – and complete the career grand slam.

And despite hurting after a second Masters play-off defeat, Rose’s inevitable professionalism shone through.

“Yeah, Rory is a friend for sure,” the Englishman said after his final round 66, which included ten birdies. “Walked on the tee. We shake hands. That’s the business end of things.”

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Once it was all said and done, and Rose had given McIlroy a moment to express his emotion, they embraced on the iconic 18th green.

“I said to him, ‘Listen, I was glad I was here on this green to witness you win the career Grand Slam’. That’s such a cool, momentous moment in the game of golf. Yeah, that was it,” Rose explained.

“He was obviously pretty overcome with emotion and probably not going to be able to take in much at the time. But yeah, I mean, it was a big day in golf.”

A true professional, Rose even had a word for his peers who hold him in the highest of respects.

“If you’re professional at something, you want to be regarded as — it’s a compliment,” the 44-year-old said. “I feel like I go about things diligently, the right way, give it my best.

“I mean, it’s tough to sit here and sort of talk about, you know, good attributes. For me, it’s just about fulfilling my childhood dreams, really, and giving everything I’ve got and no regrets.

“I think that’s what it’s all about for me is just trying to look under every stone, push myself as hard as I can to be the best I can be, and I think that’s what being professional is.”

While Rose was unable to add a Masters trophy to his US Open win in 2013, he admits he won’t dwell on the agonising pain of yet another major near miss.

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“Yeah, it hurts. I think, yeah, what are you going to do about it, though?

“I think I’ve already kicked on in my career when I finished second to Sergio here. By then played some of the best golf of my career, got to world No. 1.

“What do you choose to dwell on, you know what I mean? There’s no point in being too despondent about it and you look at all the good stuff that got me into this situation.

“You can’t skip through a career without a little bit of heartache. It’s not going to happen. If you’re willing to lift the big championships, you’ve to put yourself on the line.

“You have to risk feeling this way to get the reverse. It all nets out.”

John Turnbull A graduate of the University of Stirling, John joined the bunkered team in 2023 as a Content Producer, with a responsibility for covering all breaking news, tour news, grassroots content and much more besides. A keen golfer, he plays the majority of his golf at Falkirk Tryst Golf Club. Top of his 'bucket list' is a round of Pebble Beach... ideally in the company of Gareth Bale.