What Justin Rose said to Rory McIlroy after playoff defeat at 2025 Masters

England's Justin Rose admitted he was glad he got to witness Rory McIlroy finally complete the career grand slam at the 2025 Masters despite losing in a playoff.

Rose held the 18-hole lead at Augusta National and was still very much in contention at the halfway stage at the first men's major of the year.

But it looked as though the 44-year-old veteran wouldn't contend for the green jacket after a 75 on Saturday left him well adrift of McIlroy. 

Yet the 44-year-old veteran hit a 6-under 66 (which included 10 birdies) to set the clubhouse lead and faced a nervous wait to see if McIlroy could finally put his demons to rest.

McIlroy missed a six-foot putt on the 72nd which forced a sudden-death playoff against his European Ryder Cup teammate. 

Minutes earlier, Rose drained a huge putt of his own to reach 11-under. 

Both players had great looks for birdie on the first playoff hole but McIlroy finally clinched the green jacket by holding his nerve from three feet after Rose missed.

It represents another gut-wrenching defeat at Augusta for Rose, who also lost to Sergio Garcia in a playoff eight years ago. 

Rose also played in the final group at the 2024 Open Championship at Royal Troon but was pipped to the claret jug by Xander Schauffele. 

The Englishman, now 44, has never been able to add a second major title to his resume since clinching the 2013 U.S. Open at Merion. 

Rose said he woke up this morning just grateful to be in contention on Sunday at Augusta. 

He claimed he did not look at the leaderboard all day until he reached the 18th green and was made aware McIroy had dropped strokes. 

"It was a special feeling," Rose said of his birdie putt in regulation. 

"And unfortunately, the playoff, they always end so quickly. 

"You know, that's sudden death. You don't really get an opportunity. 

"If you're not the guy to hit the great shot or hole the great putt, it's over.

"So I felt like, that's the nature of sudden death.

"But [there's] not really anything I could have done more today."

"Such a cool, momentous day in golf"

Whilst Rose admitted the defeated 'hurts', he was undoubtedly pleased for his European Ryder Cup teammate. 

He knows what this victory means for golf. 

Asked what Rose said to McIlroy when he broke down in tears on the green, Rose said: "When it's all said and done, I said to him, 'Listen, I was glad I was here on this green to witness you win the career grand slam'. 

"That's such a cool, momentous moment in the game of golf. Yeah, that was it.

"He was obviously pretty overcome with emotion and probably not going to be able to take in much at the time.

"But yeah - it was a big day in golf."