2. Disappointing near-miss for Justin Rose
If Rose hadn’t won the 2013 U.S. Open, this loss would have been been even more disappointing. That can mask some of the pain he must be feeling, as can losing to good friend and Ryder Cup teammate Sergio Garcia.
But this one will sting.
By all rights, Rose should have had a three-shot lead (or better) leaving the 13th green. But Sergio’s great par, along with a short miss from Rose, gave each of them a five. Normally, pushing a hole with a two-shot lead is fine. But walking off of the green, that one felt different.
Indeed, it was.
Rose now has five career top-10 finishes in the Masters. He finished tied for second in 2015 and earned solo second in 2017. He’s shown that he can play at Augusta. Now he has to show he can prevail against the famed second nine on Sunday at the Masters.