AUGUSTA, GA. Justin Rose has had an exemplary career in winning globally in professional golf and in capturing his lone major title when claiming the 2013 U.S. Open at Merion.
The one missing element has come each April with the playing of the Masters.
The 44-year-old Englishman has fared well at Augusta – the closest success to slipping on the green jacket came in 2017 when he secured a playoff spot against Sergio Garcia and lost to a birdie on the first extra hole.
Rose was in full bloom during the opening round of the 89th Masters. His seven-under-par 65 was just two shots off the record of 63 shared by Nick Price / 1986 and Greg Norman / 1996. However, Justin’s goal is not to follow in either man’s footsteps as neither would be fitted for a green jacket.
The opening round by Rose featured just one blemish – a final hole bogey after his tee shot found trees on the right.
Rose is making his 20th Masters start and has top-25 finishes in 11 of the past 14 years at Augusta National. He finished T-3 in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and T-8 in the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando earlier this year.
Last July, he finished runner-up in The Open at Royal Troon after playing his way into the field through Final Qualifying. Also in 2024, he finished T-6 in the PGA Championship at Valhalla.
Beyond the 2013 U.S. Open title, Rose also claimed the 2016 Olympic Gold Medal and has represented Europe in six Ryder Cups and before turning professional, he represented Great Britain & Ireland in the 1997 Walker Cup at the age of 17.
Can a Rose bloom this late in a career?
Justin certainly hopes so.
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