At Augusta National, Justin Rose’s name appears twice on the tournament’s record boards, notably on the prestigious bronze plaque at the entrance fountain. His victories are sandwiched between Sergio García’s 2017 win and Rory McIlroy’s triumph eight years later, both of which Rose lost in playoffs. In fact, only one other golfer in Masters history has lost two playoffs—Ben Hogan—who, unlike Rose, achieved outright victories in 1951 and 1953, alongside multiple second-place finishes in other years.

Adding to his near misses, Rose also claimed the runner-up position behind Jordan Spieth in 2015, finishing four strokes behind. This puts him among the players who have come closest to claiming the coveted Masters title. Tom Weiskopf, another notable golfer, holds the record for the most second-place finishes without a win, having been the runner-up four times in just seven years. After missing a crucial birdie putt in 1975, Weiskopf expressed his belief that he would eventually win the tournament, but it turned out to be his final best opportunity at the age of 33.

Now at 45 years old, Rose prepares for his 21st Masters, uncertain whether he will ever get as close to winning as he did last year when McIlroy edged him out in a playoff. Reflecting on that experience, Rose shared, “When you realize you’re that close, you can taste the victory. You can envision the celebrations, and it all unfolded right in front of me. I lived it as if I had won, but without the accompanying joy.” Despite this, he finds solace in knowing he did everything he could to succeed. “So I can live with that in a way,” he added.

Rose maintains a focused mindset regarding his approach to major tournaments, emphasizing the importance of not placing too much pressure on a potential victory. He acknowledges that a successful career inevitably includes moments of disappointment and heartbreak. “If you want to win, you must also be prepared to face the losses. The key is to put yourself in those positions, which is the challenging part,” he explained.

Rose has consistently positioned himself well in tournaments, having shared the lead on nine occasions. However, he remains aware that he could finish a tournament as a spectator while others celebrate. He views his past experiences positively, stating, “I know I’ve been close and have faced tough losses here, but I also enjoy this place. I don’t need to create a different perspective for myself.”

He added, “I hope my past experiences bolster my confidence. I feel I’ve done what it takes to win; I just haven’t crossed the finish line. I believe I’ve executed well enough, so I don’t feel the need to search for something different within myself.”

For now, Rose’s reflective thoughts can wait until after the tournament. Presently, he is performing at a high level, recently achieving a course record at Torrey Pines and becoming the first player to win the Farmers Insurance Open wire-to-wire in 71 years. “Historically, eight players have won this tournament after finishing second the year before, which could improve my chances when looking at the field. That’s a positive,” he noted.

Despite his past runner-up finishes, Rose seems genuinely happy for McIlroy after last year’s outcome and has approached his losses with grace. “Many people are wishing me well, thinking this might be my year, based on sentiment,” he said. “I’ll need to manage that this week, especially as others recall what happened last year. That’s fine, but I have to stay focused on my own narrative and not get caught up in what others think.”