Masters runner-up finish 'hurts but I'm proud' - Rose

Hurt. Pride. Optimisim.

Justin Rose's three takeaways from last week's stunning Masters performance, where he was beaten by Grand Slam-winning Rory McIlory in a play-off, are ones that he feels will propel him to greater heights in the game.

Hurt because he's a professional and nobody likes losing.

Pride in the way he finished the championship after leading for two days and falling away on Saturday, only to bounce back on Sunday.

Optimism because he feels he's playing "some of the finest golf" of his career and that may lead to him adding to his 2013 US Open title and 2016 Olympic gold medal.

The 44-year-old is certainly enjoying something of a renaissance in the game's biggest tournaments, having finished joint sixth at last year's US PGA Championship, before backing that up with a runner-up at The Open at Royal Troon.

His form is also making him a strong contender to make a seventh appearance for Europe in this September's Ryder Cup against the US at Bethpage Black in New York.

"The past two majors I've played I've finished in second place, and it's more evidence that I'm doing some really good work," he said.

"At Royal Troon and again here at the Masters, when it gets to the real business end I feel like I'm really calm and ready for it, which again I'm proud of but it does hurt."

Rose will head to next month's major, the US PGA Championship, with huge confidence given he has four top-10 finishes in the past five years, and will be further buoyed by his performance at Augusta National.

He led after the first round for a record fifth time after shooting a seven-under 65. He backed that up with a 71 to maintain his advantage at halfway.

But thoughts of him claiming a first Green Jacket were tempered by a momentum-killing 75 on Saturday. However, away from the spotlight of an expected final-round showdown between McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau, Rose was quietly putting together a 66 to set the clubhouse lead on 11 under.

McIlroy bogeyed the last to fall into a sudden-death play-off with Rose but when the Englishman missed a 12-foot putt, his friend and Ryder Cup team-mate stepped in to hole from three feet to win.

"There is not anything I could have done more," said Rose, who was also beaten in a play-off for the 2017 title by Sergio Garcia.

"The only thing I can point to was back nine [on Saturday] with the putter where I let a few too many get away easily.

"I felt starting the day seven back was going to cost me in the sense that I felt a little bit too far back.

"I'm proud of myself, I played great golf and I flipped the switch.

"I didn't let that momentum from Saturday seep into Sunday and from a professionalism point of view I'm very proud of that."

Like McIlroy, who has talked extensively about his work with renowned sports psychologist Bob Rotella, Rose says he's prepared to risk the hurt in the pursuit of greater rewards.

"You can't skip through a career without a little bit of heartache," he said.

"If you're willing to lift the big championships then you have to put yourself on the line, you have to risk feeling this way to get the reverse."

Rose has an enviable record at Augusta National, having being runner-up in 2015, four shots behind Jordan Spieth and had 11 top-25 finishes in the past 14 years.

"It doesn't get any easier for sure," Rose said.

"I feel like I'm having to be more disciplined and make more sacrifices now than I ever have.

"The reason I'm willing to put in that work is for these occasions and moments.

"The standing ovation on 18 when I finished, I just took a moment, not knowing the result but just soaking that in.

"That was obviously a nice moment because one day I won't be competing at this tournament. For now the hard work is totally worth it.

The added incentive for Rose to have a strong season, is with it being a Ryder Cup year.

He has been on the winning side in four of his six appearances in the biannual competition and will be hoping to either qualify automatically or impress sufficiently to earn a wildcard spot and be part of the dozen Europeans that will head to Long Island, looking for a first away win since Medinah in 2012.

Rose played a key role as Europe beat the US in Rome in 2023 and has been talked about as a vice-captain to Luke Donald, with a view to him stepping up to captain the side in the future.

But if he continues his US PGA Championship streak next month at Quail Hollow, there's every chance he'll be on the squad as a player.