Justin Rose remains hopeful that he can complete the career grand slam, emulating Ryder Cup team-mate Rory McIlroy, despite being 45 years old. The Englishman’s solitary major victory came at the 2013 US Open, but he believes a late-career surge, akin to Phil Mickelson’s 2021 US PGA win at age 50, is possible.
Rose has recorded 22 top-10 major finishes, including three runner-up finishes at the Masters—most recently in a play-off to McIlroy last year—and two second-place finishes at the Open Championship. In the past two years, he has secured two second-place finishes and a joint sixth in eight majors, alongside wins on the PGA Tour last year and in February.
“Obviously I feel like I come at it from a point where I’ve achieved a lot in the game,” said Rose after a second consecutive 69 at the Masters left him three shots off the lead. “I can call myself a major champion, which is nice, but my ultimate goal is to win all four.” He added: “If I look at where I finished seconds in all the other ones, it’s not unrealistic to think it’s doable. Obviously I’m leaving it late, but that would be the ultimate goal for sure.”
Rose, who has eight top-10s at Augusta National, noted his comfort with the course: “It begins to feel comfortable. It’s always special. That, for me, is the magic that I’m comfortable here but never complacent.” He stressed the need to respect the course, particularly with second shots, but acknowledged the high-risk, high-reward nature of every shot.
