Justin Rose withdrew from the RBC Heritage a day after losing the lead on the back nine at the Masters and settling for a tie for third.
Rose, who lost in a playoff to Rory McIlroy at Augusta National last year, surged into the lead with three consecutive birdies to finish his front nine. However, he posted consecutive bogeys at Nos. 11-12 to begin “Amen Corner” while McIlroy vaulted into a lead he would not relinquish.
Rose ultimately finished two shots behind McIlroy in a four-way tie for third, with Scottie Scheffler finishing as the runner-up.
“Felt like the crowd was amazing to me all week long. They pulled for me all week long,” Rose said after Sunday’s round. “I felt their encouragement and support. At the end, it kind of goes a little flat. It’s more of a sympathy than anything.
“But it was still, nonetheless, very beautiful. But, yeah, another little stinger.”
On Monday, Rose withdrew from this week’s signature event and was replaced by Michael Thorbjornsen.
Rose finished 42nd last year in his eighth appearance at the RBC Heritage, where he hasn’t traditionally played particularly well. His most recent top-10 at Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head, S.C. came in 2004.
Rose is coming off a consistent week at the Masters, where he book-ended a pair of 70s by posting 69s in the second and third rounds. However, it was the 2-over 38 he posted on the back 9 Sunday that prevented him from claiming his first green jacket.
“I think just chance that got away obviously,” Rose said when asked about his thoughts walking up the 18th hole. “I was by no means kind of free and clear and was nowhere kind of close to having the job done, but I was right in position.”
