Justin Rose still hoping to achieve ‘ultimate goal’ of career grand slam

Justin Rose is holding out hope he is a late bloomer and can still emulate Ryder Cup teammate Rory McIlroy and complete the career grand slam.

Time is not on the side of the 45-year-old Englishman, whose solitary major came in the 2013 US Open in Merion, but he is in something of a purple patch in what could kindly be described as the twilight of his career.

Phil Mickelson won the 2021 US PGA Championship at the age of 50, Julius Boros lifted the same title in 1968 aged 48, Jack Nicklaus won the 1986 Masters – the last of his 18 majors – at the age of 46.

Rose’s lengthy career has seen him rack up 22 top-10 major finishes; he has been Masters runner-up three times – as recently as last year in a play-off to McIlroy – and twice finished second at the Open Championship.

In the last two years he has finished second twice and joint sixth in eight majors, while also winning on the PGA Tour last year and also this February.

Rose has a consistency and calmness to his game which allows him to function in the high-pressure environment of a major final round and that has given him the belief he can continue to contend.

“Obviously I feel like I come at it from a point where I’ve achieved a lot in the game,” said Rose, whose second-successive 69 on Saturday put him within three of the Masters lead going into the final round.

“I can call myself a major champion, which is nice, but my ultimate goal is to win all four.

“If I look at where I finished seconds in all the other ones, it’s not unrealistic to think it’s doable.

“Obviously I’m leaving it late, but that would be the ultimate goal for sure.”

"I feel no added expectation or pressure from what happened last year"

Justin Rose is loving being back in front of the Augusta patrons