45-year-old Justin Rose still has hope for future after another Masters close call

Rose finished tied for third at the 2026 Masters, his eighth top-10 finish at Augusta National without a win.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 5:26am

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A cubist-style painting depicting a fractured, multi-perspective scene of a golf tournament, with sharp geometric planes in shades of green, brown, and blue, capturing the dynamic energy and tension of the competition.A veteran golfer's quest for a major championship title remains elusive, but his perseverance and belief in his abilities inspire others to keep chasing their dreams.Philadelphia Today

45-year-old Justin Rose expressed hope for his future at the Masters after finishing tied for third at the 2026 tournament, his eighth top-10 finish at Augusta National without a win. Rose said he has reignited his career over the past two years and believes he has a lot of runway ahead of him to compete at a high level.

Why it matters

Rose's close calls at the Masters, including a playoff loss in 2024, show he still has the game to compete for major championships despite his age. His continued success could inspire other veteran golfers to keep pursuing their dreams of winning a major title.

The details

Rose made a bogey on the 11th hole and then hit his tee shot long on the par-3 12th, leading to consecutive bogeys that crushed his chances of winning the 2026 Masters. Rory McIlroy played those three holes in 2-under, creating a 4-shot swing that proved to be the difference in the tournament that Rose lost by 2 shots.

  • Rose finished tied for third at the 2026 Masters on April 13, 2026.

The players

Justin Rose

A 45-year-old professional golfer who has one major championship victory (2013 U.S. Open) and has finished in the top 10 at the Masters eight times without a win.

Rory McIlroy

The world's number one ranked golfer who won the 2026 Masters, his fifth career green jacket.

Scottie Scheffler

The runner-up at the 2026 Masters, finishing one shot behind Rory McIlroy.

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What they’re saying

“There's a lot of runway ahead. There was kinda a tough period 2021, 22, 23, and I feel like, middle of '23 onwards, I kinda feel like I played some good golf. And these are the tournaments I focus on, these [sic] tournaments are why I practice, these are tournaments that get me going that little extra mile. So to have it show up and to keep being in these great arenas is why I practice.”

— Justin Rose, Professional Golfer

What’s next

Rose heads back to Philadelphia for the PGA Championship at Aronomink, where he hopes the Brotherly Love shines on him again.

The takeaway

Despite his age, Justin Rose continues to be a contender at major championships, including the Masters, where he has now finished in the top 10 eight times without a win. His resilience and belief in his abilities could inspire other veteran golfers to keep pursuing their dreams of winning a major title.