Hardly a year goes by without Justin Rose adding to his litany of memories at the Masters and what is shaping into an epic Augusta hard-luck story on a scale not seen since the days of Greg Norman.
The Englishman was at it again 12 months ago with an astonishing first-round 65 to lead by four shots, despite the fact he was palpably out of form in the build-up. With a name like his, perhaps it is only to be expected that he should feel right at home amidst the magnolias, azaleas and the dogwoods.
Only two players in the history of the event have led after the first round on four separate occasions and between them those players have amassed a grand total of six green jackets. The trouble for Rose is that the other co-holder, Jack Nicklaus, has all six.
Justin Rose excited to playing at the Masters in Augusta which starts later this week
The 41-year-old is keen to add the Masters trophy to his already illustrious trophy cabinet
Rose has led after the second and third rounds as well. He has even led on two occasions walking to the 71st tee, including against Sergio Garcia in a Sunday shootout in 2017 that ended with the Spaniard winning a play-off. In 2015, Rose was also in the final group on Sunday and played well, only to lose out to an otherworldly putting display from Jordan Spieth.
How do you rationalise all that when you are the man living every second, the one who spends most of his week bouncing with excitement but leaves on Sunday evening feeling various degrees of disappointment?
What is the chief emotion as you prepare for another ride on the Masters merry-go-round: pride at 15 top-40 finishes in 16 starts at Augusta, including eight inside the top 12, or frustration that there is still — somehow — no green jacket?
Rose puffs out his cheeks and thinks for a minute. ‘It’s totally both, isn’t it?’ he said.
Rose led against Sergio Garcia in a Sunday shootout in 2017 but Spaniard won a play-off
‘The way I look at it is that it wouldn’t have taken any more for me to win the Masters than it did for me to win the Olympic gold medal. There’s always that moment on Sunday afternoon when it happens one way or the other.
‘If you look back at the tape in 2017 against Sergio, you’d have to say there was a bit of daylight robbery going on. I played plenty good enough down the stretch to win that event and that was the one that got away. In 2015 against Jordan, I did the things you’re supposed to do but he just putted his eyeballs out and fair play to him for that.
‘I do think that if I’d had the right bit of luck I would be talking to you with a green jacket but then if I’d had the wrong bit of luck in Rio I wouldn’t have become the first golfer in over a century to win an Olympic gold. It’s fractions, at the end of the day. All you can do is keep working hard and put yourself in the mix and see what happens over those precious few hours on Sunday.’
Rose smiles broadly when he thinks back to this time last year. Nothing in the build-up suggested he could be a contender once more. Nothing in his first seven holes came close to explaining what happened thereafter, as he stood on the eighth tee two over par.
In 2015, Rose was also in the final group on Sunday but lost out to Jordan Spieth (above)
‘I’m not sure I could explain it to you even now,’ he said. ‘I remember asking for a moment on my own in the locker room to take it all in. Eleven holes in nine under par on a tough day at the Masters? It was one of those runs where you come off the course and you’re not sure how you did it and for it to happen at Augusta was really cool. I suppose it was that old combination of being inspired by the place and knowing how to play the course.
‘It wasn’t easy coming out the next day but I felt I did a good job after that of staying in the hunt. Then we had the weather delay on Saturday, the course played a lot easier and that’s where it shifted for me slightly, as Hideki Matsuyama took full advantage.’
The following day, Rose ended up in a tie for seventh. A year on, he is still searching to recapture the long game fundamentals that were the bedrock of his game. In the meantime, his world ranking has fallen from No1 in February 2019 to 56th.
There has been upheaval both on and off the course that has contributed, including a move back to London. Now reunited with his long-time coach Sean Foley after a break, the 41-year-old is hopeful he is witnessing some green shoots.
Rose has fallen from No1 in February 2019 to 56th but is looking to get back on track
The golfer has reunited with his long-time coach Sean Foley after a break which could help him
‘We’re seeing things of value and a bit more clarity on the driving range,’ said Rose, who is under no illusions regarding the task ahead. ‘I tell you, if I come back now and win another major, I’d take an awful lot of pride from that,’ he added.
It is almost a quarter-century now since Rose first made his name in a major, as a 17-year-old amateur at the Open at Royal Birkdale in 1998, where he finished tied fourth.
Now he has reached the age where careers are assessed. How does he feel about the fact there is still no green jacket alongside his 2013 US Open trophy? No Claret Jug next to the gold medal?
Again, he takes his time. ‘Of course I’d like more of everything but if I’m at a dinner in a few years’ time and I get announced as a major champion, an Olympic gold medallist, a FedEx Cup champion, world No1, Ryder Cup player, I can’t complain, can I?’ he said.
‘If you’d asked me a different question and would I like to start again and wipe the slate clean, I’d have said: ‘Hell, no’. Believe me, it’s been hard earned.’
Rose has previously led after the second and third rounds and is hoping to go one better
