AUGUSTA, Ga. — Justin Rose seemingly pranced from toward the 10th tee, bouncing up the incline from the ninth green as if he were jumping on a trampoline. The cheers from patrons surrounding him were mountainous. With nine holes to go, he had one arm in the Green Jacket with a two-shot lead, eyeing his first Masters title.
He took some time to high-five a couple kids while walking, but right before reaching the tee box, he tried to step out of the arena he was in. Rose inhaled deeply, seemingly digesting what awaited him on the second nine at Augusta National Golf Club. As the saying goes, the Masters doesn't begin until the second nine. For Rose, he knew the pressure cooker and feeling that awaited him once he descended down the 10th fairway.
The 45-year-old, who has found a second spark in the latter stages of his career, knew this could be his final shot to win a major championship. It was now or never.
Unfortunately for Rose, his chance at history ran into Amen Corner, which has stolen dreams of dozens of golfers over the years and will do the same in the years to come. Rose was the latest victim, resulting in a 38 on the backside. Rose finished 10 under for the week, tied for third and two shots behind Rory McIlroy, who becomes the fourth player to win consecutive Masters.
"Chance that got away obviously," Rose said Sunday night. "You know, I was by no means kind of free and clear and was nowhere kind of close to having the job done, but I was right in position. I was really in control. First 10 holes I felt like I was, yeah, I was. ... and the mentality was to run through the finish line not just try and get it done. I was playing great, but just momentum shifted for me around the Amen Corner."
A stress-free par on 10 was followed by a poor approach shot on the 11th, the start of Amen Corner. Rose didn't commit to his second, leaving his ball well right and 39 yards away from the pin. His pitch shot barely cleared the bunker and trickled to 15 feet, but he missed the par attempt and dropped to 11 under, tying him with McIlroy.
Then on the 12th, Rose went long and left, but the trouble came with the pitch shot and an issue with a pine cone. He didn't get his ball on the green, leaving it short in fear of having the ball go too far and into Rae's Creek. A pitch and a putt later, Rose was at 10 under, and lost the lead for good. About 45 minutes earlier, he led by two.
"You get on the 12th tee, you got to be 100 percent in the moment on this hole," Rose said. "That hole is never easy. Landed two yards too far and kind of put me in a funny spot where I had a pine cone right next to my ball that I wanted to move. It kind of made me try to chip in a bit of a different way because I had to kind of use the toe of the club and hit a bit of a hook chip.
"That wasn't ideal in that moment either. Probably could have putted that one. But there was a lot of the fringe to go through, so those are the unexpected things that happen in the moment that you're always having to adapt to."
On the 13th, Rose had his chance to bounce back. He found the par-5 13th green in two shots, leaving himself 30 feet for eagle. His putt blasted past the hole, leaving himself eight feet coming back, but he missed. The groans bounced off the trees behind the green and echoed. Rose left Amen Corner making two bogeys and a par. When McIlroy stepped on the 14th tee, he played the same stretch in 2 under and was three ahead of Rose.
Patrons look at the Masters scoreboard at the end of the round during the third round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.The sea of green chairs around the 18th green ahead of the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.Jake Knapp takes a shot on the first fairway during the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.The 10th green during the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.Tommy Fleetwood lines up his shot on the fourth hole during the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.Ian Finnis, Tommy Fleetwood’s caddie, waits in the walkway after the fourth hole during the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.Patrick Reed takes a shot on the first fairway during the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.Collin Morikawa plays a shot from a bunker on the first hole during the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.Brooks Koepka high-fives Mary Bracken Green, 10, of Augusta, as he walks to the fifth tee box during the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.Wyndham Clark plays a shot from the pine straw on the third hole during the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.Scottie Scheffler and Haotong Li walk up the first fairway during the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.1 / 11Photos: Masters 2026 final round Sunday at Augusta NationalPatrons look at the Masters scoreboard at the end of the round during the third round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.1 / 11Photos: Masters 2026 final round Sunday at Augusta NationalPatrons look at the Masters scoreboard at the end of the round during the third round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.2 / 11Photos: Masters 2026 final round Sunday at Augusta NationalThe sea of green chairs around the 18th green ahead of the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.3 / 11Photos: Masters 2026 final round Sunday at Augusta NationalJake Knapp takes a shot on the first fairway during the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.4 / 11Photos: Masters 2026 final round Sunday at Augusta NationalThe 10th green during the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.5 / 11Who are the patrons picking? We asked them for a 2026 Masters winnerTommy Fleetwood lines up his shot on the fourth hole during the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.6 / 11Photos: Masters 2026 final round Sunday at Augusta NationalIan Finnis, Tommy Fleetwood’s caddie, waits in the walkway after the fourth hole during the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.7 / 11Photos: Masters 2026 final round Sunday at Augusta NationalPatrick Reed takes a shot on the first fairway during the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.8 / 11Photos: Masters 2026 final round Sunday at Augusta NationalCollin Morikawa plays a shot from a bunker on the first hole during the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.9 / 11Photos: Masters 2026 final round Sunday at Augusta NationalBrooks Koepka high-fives Mary Bracken Green, 10, of Augusta, as he walks to the fifth tee box during the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.10 / 11Photos: Masters 2026 final round Sunday at Augusta NationalWyndham Clark plays a shot from the pine straw on the third hole during the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.11 / 11Photos: Masters 2026 final round Sunday at Augusta NationalScottie Scheffler and Haotong Li walk up the first fairway during the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club."I felt like maybe a birdie there kind of gets the momentum back," Rose said. "But, yeah, it is what it is, right?"
Rose birdied the 15th but gave the stroke back on the 17th. He got a stellar ovation from the crowd, which has come to love Rose after his pair of playoff losses and another runner-up finish at Augusta National, all coming since 2015. His walk up the 18th will not be his last, but it was another one where Rose was left asking "what if?"
Even with the loss, Rose looks at his past couple years as a positive.
"I would say in the last sort of two years I've really kind of re-kicked on and re-energized my career and myself and have a lot of belief in myself that there is a lot of runway ahead," Rose said. "These are the tournaments I focus on. These are the tournaments why I practice. These are the tournaments that get me going that sort of extra mile to sort of have to show up and keep being in these great arenas is kind of why I practice."
Augusta National is known for having players past their prime being able to make a run. Even this week, Jose Maria Olazabal and Fred Couples had their chances near the top of the leaderboard, reminding fans of the times they donned Green Jackets at week's end.
Rose isn't quite at that age, nor is his game in a spot where he can't compete at Augusta. But Sunday may have been his last chance to be in contention at the Masters. The game promises nothing, and Rose has one of the best resumes of players who haven't won the year's first major.
A lifetime of memories have accumulated amongst the rolling hills and loblolly pines, but Rose remains empty handed after so many close calls.
"I feel like with a sudden death loss you kind of know you got to the house," Rose said. "You've done everything it took to win. Then it comes down to flick of a coin at times. Whereas today I felt like there was an opportunity to do better, so obviously that is frustrating for sure."
While he's not prancing away from the 18th green, Rose's head is held high.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Masters 2026: Justin Rose holds head high after another close call