Justin Rose has spoken out about his wife’s hug with Rory McIlroy after the Masters, saying he found the whole reaction “funny”. Rose was pipped at the first play-off hole as McIlroy secured a birdie amid incredible drama at Augusta.
The victory saw McIlroy secure the coveted Grand Slam, a feat 11 years in the making following his previous major tournament win. The triumph sparked a flood of emotion from McIlroy, the patrons at Augusta and fans around the globe.
In the midst of celebrations, McIlroy was seen embracing several people, including a ‘mystery woman’ who turned out to be Rose’s wife, Kate. She congratulated him, saying: “I’m really, really happy for you.”
Despite the sting of defeat, Rose couldn’t help but laugh at the speculation surrounding the woman’s identity. When asked before the RBC Heritage tournament in South Carolina if he had discussed the embrace with Kate, Rose said: “No, not really.
“There was some article somewhere [saying] like, ‘who’s the mystery woman that was hugging Rory?’ It turned out to be Kate. That was pretty funny.”
He added: “Listen, I think in the moment you realise what it means to everybody involved. You realise what it means to other families, what they must be feeling. You’re a part of the moment.
“You’re a part of the story. You’re a part of all of the energy that’s going on in that moment. I think that’s what happens. You embrace that connection that you have with everybody and all that’s going on in the moment.
“No, I don’t know what she said to him. I don’t think that was discussion-worthy or anything, to be honest.”
Rose began the final round seven strokes off the lead but finished with a 66 to set the clubhouse target, only for McIlroy to prevail at the first extra hole.
Rose, now a three-time Masters runner-up, revealed mixed emotions about his crushing loss, saying: “A lot of outpouring from people with a lot of positive comments coming at me, so I’m trying to absorb that and absorb the week.
“But at the same time, looking at my phone and wishing there was a different message there. Having been in that situation before and even more this time, I could really sense what it would be like to win it. I was right there on the edge of winning it obviously.
“I certainly don’t feel down in any way, shape or form because of the performance I was able to put in and how I was able to feel putting in that performance, but just sort of… [I] don’t know what the right word is, tormented probably by the thought of what might have been.
“I was a stone’s throw away from winning the Open (he was runner-up at Troon last year), winning the Masters. I would have been going for a Grand Slam at the PGA [Championship].”
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