Rose wilts at Augusta to miss the Masters cut
World No 1 Justin Rose bogeyed the final two holes to miss the cut by one shot at the US Masters on Friday, the first time he has made an early exit in 14 visits to Augusta National.
Rose suffered a cruel lipout with a seven-foot putt at the 17th hole and then went from bad to worse, hardly touching the hole with a four-footer at the last.
He shot rounds of 75 and 73. “The goal today was to make the cut,” said Rose.
“I’ve been playing terribly this week, but there’s always pride in trying to make it. I’ve never missed a cut here.”
Rose made the ideal start to round two with birdies on the first and second and after quickly giving those shots back and dropping another on the 11th, birdied the 12th and made an eagle on the 13th.
However, the 38-year-old then hit his approach to the par-five 15th into the water short of the green and dropped further shots on the last two holes.
“It looked good at 12 and 13,” he added. “Middle of the fairway on 15, should be an easy birdie to get back to even par. If you get into the red you’re still in the tournament. But terrible finish and a disappointing miss.
“Missed a four-footer at the last, which just sums it up.”
The Englishman’s performance was a surprise since he had arrived at the tournament in fine fettle, seemingly poised to make another tilt at the Green Jacket two years after losing a play-off to Sergio Garcia.
Garcia also bowed out early, along with other former winners Englishman Danny Willett (2016) and South African Charl Schwartzel (2011). Rose, Garcia and Willett, at four-over-par 148, missed by one stroke, while Schwartzel was two shots over the line.
A total of 65 players made the cut, including defending champion Patrick Reed, who sits on one-under-par.
The nine players who made the cut on the number at three over had reason to thank Adam Scott.
The Australian got to eight under until three-putting the 16th hole. Had he finished on eight under everyone at three over would have been eliminated.
Instead, Scott finished at seven over to join a halfway tie for the lead with Jason Day, Francesco Molinari, Brooks Koepka and Louis Oosthuizen ahead of last night’s third round.