1 week Ago By [email protected] (Chris Burns)
Rory McIlroy has claimed that he was "selfishly" happy to be facing off against Justin Rose in his Masters play-off , as it demonstrated that European golf is in a strong place. In a show of class, the 2025 Masters winner was effusive in his praise for English star, Rose. He also insisted that Europe's Ryder Cup hopes were even on his mind, displaying just how much consideration the world No.
2 is already giving to September's team event, with Europe looking to hold on to the title they won in 2023. "He's [Rose] a great champion," McIlroy said. "He has displayed so much grace throughout his career.
You know, selfishly, I was happy that it was another Euro in the playoff. We're on a good run at the minute. We're Ryder Cup year and all that.
"He's had a phenomenal record around here, and I feel for him a little bit because he's been so close. He's a good friend, and hopefully, he has a few more opportunities." Rose, 44, turned up the heat on the Northern Irish star on Sunday evening after he carded a round of 66 to roar back into contention.
A classy birdie at the 18th even saw him become the clubhouse leader for a short while. McIlroy's bogey on 18 meant the duo, who have been Ryder Cup team-mates for more than a decade, then had to do battle, with the 35-year-old eventually clinching the green jacket. Rose, who is no stranger to Masters heartbreak after three near-misses, revealed that he imparted some words to McIlroy after their dramatic play-off.
"I just said, listen, this is a historic moment in golf, isn't it, someone who achieves the career Grand Slam," the 2013 US Open champion said. "I said it was pretty cool to be able to share that moment with him. Obviously I wanted to be the bad guy today, but still, it's a momentous occasion for the game of golf.
" Rose last missed out on the green jacket in 2017. On that occasion he was undone by Spanish star Sergio Garcia, yet he believes he can use his latest set-back as a launch pad for further success. "It's definitely tough," he said.
"But I bounced back pretty well from that too. I went on to be world number one after that so I used it to my advantage," he said. Having won the US Open, The Open and two US PGA Championships by the end of 2014, McIlroy now completes the full set of major championships at the 11th attempt.
He joins Americans Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods and South Africa's Gary Player as the latest player to win all four, known as the career grand slam. McIlroy also opened up on the pressure he faced coming into the play-off, as well as the outpouring of raw emotion that followed his victory. "The last 10 years coming with the burden of Grand Slam on my shoulders and trying to achieve that," he added.
"All week I responded to setbacks and that's what I'll remember. I'm so proud of that and being able to bounce back. I would say it was 14 years in the making.
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