Niall Horan has disclosed just how difficult Justin Rose found it to speak about The Open Championship in the days after finishing second at Royal Troon in 2024.
Rose, of course, is returning to the scene of one of the most iconic moments of his career later this month. It was his approach into the 72nd hole at Royal Birkdale in 1998 that launched the Englishman as a potential superstar.
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His fourth place finish as a teenage amateur was his best result at The Open Championship until 2018, when he was one of the players who came second to Francesco Molinari.
Rose once again came second in 2024 at Royal Troon.
Niall Horan shares how disappointed Justin Rose was after The Open Championship in 2018
He had led the tournament during the final round in South Ayrshire. However, the back nine was a frustrating one for Rose, particularly as he was playing alongside Xander Schauffele.
The pair produced the two lowest rounds of the day. But ultimately, it was the American who got his hands on the Claret Jug thanks to his 65.
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Rose has dealt with setbacks with such class throughout his career. But missing out at Royal Troon seemed to hit him a little harder.
Photo by Harry How/Getty Images
In fact, speaking on Chasing Forever, singer Niall Horan revealed just how difficult his good friend found accepting the result in the days after.
“We were going on holiday that evening, to the Bahamas, back to Rosey’s house, and we were getting onto the plane. I got onto the plane and I just put my hand on his leg, I didn’t say anything to him because what can I say to him right now? It took him a few days to even talk about it. I’m sure he won’t mind me saying he was definitely hurting, clearly. It was written all over his face. He just wasn’t himself. He wasn’t the cheery, fun guy. He was very much broken over the fact that he’d just missed out on such a big opportunity,” he said.
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“Maybe about four or five days later, we were sat somewhere having a beer. And then he just slapped his leg and swore, which is not a very Rosey thing to do at all. And it was kind of out of nowhere. And no one said anything. But I think it kept ticking away in his brain, the little moments, things that he did on the course were just flooding back to him, realising that opportunity had gone past him again.”
How Justin Rose has performed in Open Championships at Royal Birkdale
The number of majors Rose has, so far, won does not do justice to the career he has had. He has been a world number one, won an Olympic gold medal, and helped Europe win five Ryder Cups.
Many will hope that returning to Royal Birkdale inspires the 45-year-old to yet another moment of glory.
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Unfortunately, Birkdale has not been particularly kind to Rose on his previous returns to Southport. He finished outside the top 50 in both 2008 and 2017.
The Open Championship has also been the major where Rose has had the least success. He has had just four top 10s at The Open over the last three decades.
He has had twice as many at both The Masters and the PGA Championship. And of course, he won the US Open 13 years ago.
Having said that, Rose cannot be counted out. He is not someone who contends every week at this stage of his career, but he has a remarkable ability to step up in certain moments.
So it should not surprise anyone if Rose is the man holding the Claret Jug on the 18th green later this month.
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