Justin Rose was denied a second major title in last month’s Masters after losing out to Rory McIlroy in a playoff, and the Englishman has now opened up on his LIV Golf offer
Joshua Lees Senior Golf Writer
20:05, 14 May 2025
Justin Rose had his say on why he did not join LIV Golf(Image: Getty Images)
Justin Rose reckons he might’ve missed the opportunity to square off with Rory McIlroy at the Masters last month if he had opted to join LIV Golf.
Rose narrowly missed clinching the Green Jacket at Augusta National, getting edged out by McIlroy in a playoff, as the golf star from Northern Ireland wrapped up his career Grand Slam. For the English ace, it was his second brush with major glory in less than a year.
At The Open Championship in July of the previous year, Rose was again on the cusp of snatching a second major title since his triumph at the 2013 U.S. Open but was bested by Xander Schauffele. Richard Bland, meanwhile, will not be able to defend his U.S. Senior Open title in June due to his commitments with LIV.
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Despite advancing in years within his professional playing days, Rose has admirably demonstrated that he can still jostle among the golfing elite. Three years back, a slew of his European colleagues chose LIV’s riches over their PGA Tour berths.
Even with an alluring proposal from LIV, Rose is firm in his judgment that staying put was the wiser play to ensure his presence on the major circuit.
“That was a primary factor and, hey, it’s almost paid off,” he shared with The Telegraph, who characterized the offer pitched by LIV to Rose as “absurd.”
Justin Rose missed out at the Masters(Image: Getty Images)
“I’ve finished runner-up in the last two majors, and would I have even been playing if I’d switched across? Who knows? I have no regrets.”
Rose earned praise for his graciousness in the aftermath of his defeat at Augusta National, where he offered congratulations to his record-breaking Ryder Cup teammate McIlroy.
Despite seemingly taking the loss in stride, Rose struggled in the days that followed. “I wasn’t quite ready to go through all the messages straight away,” he said.
“I started to on the Monday and Tuesday, because I wanted to say thanks.
“But then I was like, ‘I need a bit of my own time here to process it’. I worked through it and reached the stage where I didn’t feel too despondent. I don’t really now see it as a loss on that Sunday, because I lost it on Saturday, when I turned a 69 into a 75.
“I think I played well enough to win. I mean, Rory played well enough to win a lot more comfortably than he did, so everyone can say, ‘Hey, I should’ve won, whatever’. But it’s like the level was there to win, which is important.”
Rose wasted no time returning to action, competing at the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town just a week later.
After taking some time off, he returned to competition at the Truist Championship last week but unfortunately had to withdraw mid-tournament due to illness. However, Rose appears to have made a full recovery and is competing at Quail Hollow this week in the PGA Championship.
