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Rory McIlroy was locked in on Sunday in his pursuit of golf’s elusive Grand Slam — so much so that he didn’t say much to his playing partner Bryson DeChambeau, the latter shared afterwards.
But that doesn’t mean the Northern Irish golfer didn’t take time to welcome kind words from fellow golfer Justin Rose, whom he bested in the sudden death one-hole playoff, earning McIlroy his first green jacket.
“I just said, listen, this is a historic moment in golf, isn’t it, someone who achieves the career Grand Slam,” Rose, 44, told CBS sports reporter Amanda Balionis. “I just 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.”
It was the second time that the English golfer has come up short at a playoff in Augusta. In 2017, he lost in sudden death to Sergio Garcia. And in 2015, he tied for second along with Phil Mickelson, behind Masters winner Jordan Spieth.
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Yet Rose is able to put a positive spin on his runner-up status.
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“But listen, to make the putt on 18, the one you dream about as a kid, to obviously give myself an opportunity and a chance was an unbelievable feeling,” he said. “Obviously, I’ve been in this position before, 2017. It’s definitely tough, but I bounced back pretty well from that, too. Went on to be World No. 1 after that, so I used it to my advantage.
Rose continued, “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, and it’s more evidence that I’m doing some really good work.”
As for McIlroy, the win on Sunday launched him into golf’s stratosphere of greats. Alongside Tiger Woods who achieved the Grand Slam in 2000, the father of one now stands shoulder to shoulder with Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus.
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