Justin Rose has acknowledged that his near-miss at the Masters last month was a difficult setback to process, as he gears up for the second major of the year with new McLaren irons in his bag.
Masters Heartbreak
The 45-year-old Englishman led midway through the final round at Augusta National before a challenging stretch at Amen Corner saw the green jacket slip away, leaving him tied for third. It was another close call for Rose, who has finished runner-up at the Masters three times and has been a consistent major performer, with four top-six finishes in his last eight major starts.
Reflecting on the experience, Rose said: “After The Masters, I went home and there was a lot to absorb. That was a tough loss. The first two weeks back have been about finding my feet again. There are cycles of form and cycles of things you have to work through mentally. I feel I’ve done a nice job of that now, and the enthusiasm and energy are coming back to compete. I feel more switched on and ready to go.”
New Irons, New Challenge
Rose will launch his bid for a second major title at the US PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club this week, using his new McLaren Golf irons. He has been a key figure in McLaren’s foray into golf equipment, helping translate their Formula One engineering expertise into club design. However, his first outing with the irons resulted in a tie for 65th at the Cadillac Championship two weeks ago, followed by a tie for 45th at last week’s Truist Championship.
Despite concerns about disrupting his consistent form, Rose dismissed the notion that the switch is a gamble. “I don’t think it’s a big deal,” he said. “I’ve been working on this project for 18 months. It’s a full wishlist of everything I’d like in a set of irons. I’ve enjoyed the process and would love to play great this week. The fact I haven’t played great the last two weeks has nothing to do with the irons.”
Pushing for Improvement
Rose emphasised his commitment to constant improvement. “It’s about always pushing myself to be better. That’s why I’m here at 45. I’m not here because I’ve done the same things for 10 years. I’m always doing something different, finding one per cent gains. That’s what makes it exciting.”
Familiar Surroundings
Aronimink holds fond memories for Rose, who is one of only two players in the field—alongside Keegan Bradley—to have won there before. He also finished second to Bradley at the venue, and his only major victory came at the 2013 US Open at Merion Golf Club, just down the road in Philadelphia.
“The whole area feels very familiar to the part of England I live in (Surrey),” Rose said. “It’s very leafy and green. Even this time of year, the spring here is like the spring in England. Aronimink has been kind to me in the past.”
