Justin Rose falls short in Masters playoff despite career-best round

English veteran makes 10 birdies in final round but loses green jacket to Rory McIlroy at Augusta.

Justin Rose of England reacts on the No. 18 green during the final round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 13, 2025. Photo by Logan Whitton/Getty Images

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

Justin Rose falls short in the Masters playoff despite producing one of the finest rounds of his long and decorated career. The 44-year-old Englishman made an impressive charge with a 10-birdie final round at the 89th Masters, carding a six-under-par 66 on Sunday. But the green jacket still slipped from his grasp after he lost to Rory McIlroy in a sudden-death playoff at Augusta National.

The outcome was a familiar sting for Rose, who has now finished second at the Masters three times. Sunday’s heartbreak mirrored his 2017 loss to Sergio Garcia, also decided by a playoff. Despite the defeat, Rose walked off the 18th green with his head held high, insisting that he remains a contender on golf’s biggest stages—even in the twilight of his career.

"It's tough, of course it is," Rose said in the post-round interview. "You play your heart out, you give everything, and you fall just short. But I'm proud of how I played. I know I can still do this."

A remarkable Sunday at Augusta

Rose began the final round knowing he needed something extraordinary to chase down the leaders. After a steady start that included two birdies and two bogeys in the opening five holes, he caught fire at the turn. Birdies at the seventh and eighth sparked momentum, but it was Augusta's famed Amen Corner where Rose truly came alive.

At the par-four 11th, he rolled in a monster 58-foot putt for birdie. On the next hole, the tricky par-three 12th, he holed a 17-footer to keep the pressure on. The charge continued at the par-five 13th, where he narrowly missed an eagle but tapped in for another birdie. The roars from the patrons around Augusta signaled Rose’s intent—he was in the mix and playing fearless golf.

Even after a bogey at the 14th threatened to stall his momentum, Rose rebounded with key birdies at the 15th and 16th to climb back into a tie for the lead. A bogey at the 17th was a setback, but on the final hole of regulation, Rose drained a 20-foot birdie putt to finish at 11-under and force a playoff with McIlroy.

"It's the kind of putt you dream about as a kid," Rose said. "To have it in that moment and hole it—it was a special feeling, no doubt."

The sudden-death playoff began on the 18th hole. Rose reached the green in two shots, giving himself a look at birdie. But McIlroy, with nerves of steel, stuck his approach to within four feet and calmly rolled in the putt to seal the victory—and the career Grand Slam.

"That's sudden death," Rose said with a half-smile. "If you're not the guy to hit the great shot or hole the great putt, it's over. Today, Rory was that guy."

The loss may sting, but Rose’s performance at Augusta was nothing short of exceptional. His 66 was among the best rounds ever played in the final stages of a Masters tournament, and his ten birdies tied a tournament record for the most in a final round.

Though the green jacket eluded him once again, Rose left Augusta encouraged by his form. The 2013 U.S. Open champion, who also won gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics, has been through ups and downs in recent years. Injuries, inconsistency, and missed cuts had many wondering whether his best golf was behind him.

But this season, Rose has found something again. After finishing runner-up at The Open at Troon last year—having come through qualifying just to make the field—he now sees himself as a legitimate contender at majors, even into his mid-40s.

"Definitely I'm proud of myself," Rose said. "I played great golf today. And I’ve got to take a lot of positives from it."

He added, “I think I already kicked on in my career when I finished second to Sergio here. After that, I played some of the best golf of my life. I reached world number one. So who knows what’s next?”

Accepting the heartache, chasing the dream

Despite having only one major to his name, Rose has repeatedly put himself in contention on the sport’s grandest stages. The Masters has been especially cruel, but Rose knows that heartbreak is often the price of chasing glory in professional golf.

"You can't skip through a career without a little bit of heartache," he said. "It's not going to happen. If you're willing to lift the big championships, you've got to put yourself on the line. And sometimes, that means you fall short."

With his calm demeanor, graceful handling of defeat, and remarkable performance under pressure, Rose reminded the golf world of his pedigree. Few would be surprised if he adds to his major tally in the near future.

"I’m not done," Rose said with conviction. "There’s still a lot of fight left in me."

The next chance for Rose will come at the PGA Championship in May. With his game trending in the right direction and confidence restored, the Englishman will surely be a name to watch. Then comes the U.S. Open, and a return to Troon for The Open Championship—two venues where he’s proven himself before.

While Rory McIlroy may have taken the spotlight this weekend, Justin Rose's resilience, skill, and class also made headlines. And in the game of golf, redemption often comes when least expected.