Justin Rose has addressed his wife’s embrace with Rory McIlroy following the Masters, admitting he found the reaction “funny”. Rose was beaten on the first extra hole by McIlroy, who holed from short range for birdie after the Englishman’s attempt had narrowly missed in an epic finish at Augusta.
It saw McIlroy finally complete golf’s Grand Slam, almost 11 years after his last major triumph. The Northern Irishman’s success triggered a wave of emotion from himself and those watching at the course and worldwide. After sinking the winning putt, McIlroy was spotted hugging numerous people, including a ‘mystery woman’ later identified as Rose’s wife, Kate, who told him: “I’m really, really happy for you.” While Rose was naturally left devastated by the defeat, he admitted to finding the conjecture over the identity of the woman amusing.
Asked ahead of the RBC Heritage tournament if he had spoken to Kate about that moment, Rose said: “No, not really. There was some article somewhere [saying] like, ‘who’s the mystery woman that was hugging Rory?’ It turned out to be Kate. That was pretty funny.
“Listen, I think in the moment you realise what it means to everybody involved. You realise what it means to other families, what they must be feeling. You’re a part of the moment.
“You’re a part of the story. You’re a part of all of the energy that’s going on in that moment. I think that’s what happens. You embrace that connection that you have with everybody and all that’s going on in the moment. No, I don’t know what she said to him. I don’t think that was discussion worthy or anything, to be honest.”
The Englishman had started the final round seven shots behind McIlroy, but made his 10th birdie of the day on the 18th in a closing 66 to set the clubhouse target, with McIlroy then missing from five feet for the title in regulation.
“Mixed emotions for sure,” said Rose, now a three-time Masters runner-up. “A lot of outpouring from people with a lot of positive comments coming at me so trying to absorb that and absorb the week.
“But the same time looking at my phone and wishing there was a different message there. Having been in that situation before and even more this time, I could really sense what it would be like to win it. I was right there on the edge of winning it obviously.
“I certainly don’t feel down in any way, shape or form because of the performance I was able to put in and how I was able to feel putting in that performance, but just sort of… don’t know what the right word is, tormented probably by the thought of what might have been.
“I take that loss pretty badly. But listen, I was a stone’s throw away from winning the Open [he was runner-up at Troon last year], winning the Masters. I would have been going for a Grand Slam at the PGA. It’s like, it can be that close. I’ve got to believe that.”
