152nd Open Championship ends emotionally for veteran Justin Rose

It was clear who the gallery at Royal Troon was rooting for on Sunday at the Open Championship. Veteran golfer and British native, Justin Rose, was cheered on during every swing of the golf club. He finished in a tie for 2nd after shooting a final round 67. He lost by two strokes to winner Xander Schauffele.

The 43-year-old had an impressive weekend. Rose had to play 36 holes in order to qualify before the tournament even began. He opened the tournament by shooting a 68 on Thursday. On Sunday, he started the front nine by making 3 birdies, but then bogeyed the par four 12th and only capitalized on birdie tries on the 16th and 18th to finish out his final round. It was his best finish in a major since a tie for second at the Open Championship in 2018.

2013 U.S. Open winner Justin Rose had his best finish of the year at the 152nd Open

During this season, he has just one other top-10 finish, a tie for sixth at the PGA Championship. Placing in the top ten also qualifies him for next year's Open. Rose's swing coach, Mark Blackburn, commented on the performance of the well-respected veteran: “Chronologically, yeah, he might be in his 40s,” Blackburn said, “but I think biologically, the way he looks after himself, he’s probably in his 30s.”

For the mostly stoic Rose, his emotions began to emerge as he walked to the final green on Sunday. It was right before he went on to make birdie on the 18th. It was a 15-foot putt and the gallery went crazy for the British native.

“At that point, you’re being a professional,” Rose said after the final round. “Then I walk 10 steps later, and I’m choking back tears. So that’s the shift.”

Despite the second-place finish, it will be a memorable moment for Rose as he enters the latter part of his career.