Justin Rose’s Class Shines Through After Heartbreaking Finish at The Open
Justin Rose demonstrated remarkable composure and grace following his narrow miss at The Open, where he finished just two strokes behind champion Xander Schauffele at Royal Troon. Despite his disappointment, the 2013 US Open champion took the time to commend Schauffele and reflect on his own performance.
After completing his final round, Rose was visibly emotional, supported by his wife Kate, who reassured him with words of pride. However, Rose quickly gathered himself to address the media, highlighting the positives of his performance.
“I won second place,” the 43-year-old remarked. “I won FedExCup points. At that point, you’re being a professional. Then I walk 10 steps and I’m choking back tears. So that’s the shift. I just think it’s such an amazing stage.
“[I’m] gutted. I walked off the course and it hit me hard because I was so strong out there today. I really played the way I wanted to. I got off on the front foot and felt comfortable with it all day.
“I did a lot of the hard things really well, just a critical moment midway through the back nine momentum-wise. Xander got it going. I hit a couple of really good putts that didn’t fall, and then suddenly that lead stretched.
“In terms of how I played and the execution of my emotions today – my mindset – I left it all out there. I’m super proud of how I competed.”
Rose started the tournament with a solid two under-par round on Thursday, followed by a three under-par round on Friday. Despite struggling in poor weather conditions on Saturday, finishing two over-par, he entered the final day tied for second place. Rose’s impressive four under-par performance on Sunday was not enough to surpass Schauffele, who dominated the last 36 holes with an eight under-par finish.
Reflecting on his family’s support, Rose noted the increased challenges of balancing his career with family life as his children grow older and less mobile. Despite these challenges, he expressed gratitude for their unwavering pride and understanding.
“You want them to see you as a winner. They know that. As I get older, it would be cool to share that with them,” Rose said, acknowledging the importance of his family’s presence and support throughout his career.