What Justin Rose said to Rory McIlroy after playoff defeat at 2025 Masters
England’s Justin Rose has revealed what he told Rory McIlroy on the green after the Northern Irishman achieved the career grand slam at the 2025 Masters.
England’s Justin Rose admitted he was glad he got to witness Rory McIlroy finally complete the career grand slam at the 2025 Masters despite losing in a playoff.
Rose held the 18-hole lead at Augusta National and was still very much in contention at the halfway stage at the first men’s major of the year.
But it looked as though the 44-year-old veteran wouldn’t contend for the green jacket after a 75 on Saturday left him well adrift of McIlroy.
Yet the 44-year-old veteran hit a 6-under 66 (which included 10 birdies) to set the clubhouse lead and faced a nervous wait to see if McIlroy could finally put his demons to rest.
McIlroy missed a six-foot putt on the 72nd which forced a sudden-death playoff against his European Ryder Cup teammate.
Minutes earlier, Rose drained a huge putt of his own to reach 11-under.
Both players had great looks for birdie on the first playoff hole but McIlroy finally clinched the green jacket by holding his nerve from three feet after Rose missed.
It represents another gut-wrenching defeat at Augusta for Rose, who also lost to Sergio Garcia in a playoff eight years ago.
Rose also played in the final group at the 2024 Open Championship at Royal Troon but was pipped to the claret jug by Xander Schauffele.
At 44, the Englishman still hasn’t managed to secure a second major title since winning the 2013 U.S. Open at Merion.
Rose shared that he felt simply thankful to be in the mix on Sunday at Augusta.
He mentioned he didn’t glance at the leaderboard throughout the day until he got to the 18th green, where he learned that McIlroy had lost strokes.
Reflecting on his birdie putt during regulation play, Rose said, “It was a special feeling.”
“Playoffs are brutal,” he added. “They end so fast. In sudden death, you don’t really get a chance—if you’re not the one who makes the big shot or sinks the clutch putt, it’s over. That’s just how it goes. But honestly, I don’t think there was anything more I could’ve done today.”
He acknowledged the loss was tough to swallow but expressed genuine happiness for his Ryder Cup teammate, recognizing how significant the win was for the sport.
When asked what he said to McIlroy, who was visibly emotional, Rose replied: “I told him, ‘I’m glad I got to be here on the green to witness you complete the career grand slam.’ That’s such a big, iconic moment for golf. That was it.
“He was clearly overwhelmed, probably not in a place to fully take it all in at the time.”
