Masters 2026: Is Justin Rose the most hard-luck finisher in Augusta history?

AUGUSTA, Ga. — The patrons surrounding the 18th green stood as Justin Rose approached, the applause growing louder as 45-year-old Englishman made his way up the fairway. It was a scene that looked, felt and sounded like the coronation of a Masters champion—except the scores on the leaderboard told a different story. On this Sunday afternoon, the patrons' support was offered not out of triumph but rather sympathy.

For the 21st time in his career, Rose was leaving Augusta National without the green jacket.

“Another little stinger” was how Rose characterized his fate Sunday. With a closing 70, he finished at 10-under 278, two shots back of repeat winner Rory McIlroy. However, midway through the round, Rose held a two-shot lead, and his T-3 performance is now his fifth top-five showing at the Masters. Rose has led more rounds (nine) and earned more money ($7.6 million) than any player who doesn’t have a place to sit at the Champions Dinner.

“What might have been” has become a mantra Rose shares with a handful of other standout golfers who have played exceptionally well at Augusta National but whose memories of the place are all bittersweet. (You could have counted McIlroy among that list until a year ago.) They include:

Greg Norman

Starts: 23; Runners-up: 1 (1996); Top-3 finishes: 6; Top-5s: 8

Of course there was the infamous 1996 collapse that produced his one lone runner-up showing at Augusta. But that was one of six(!) top-three finishes (and eight top-fives) in 23 Masters appearances.

Tom Weiskopf

Starts: 16; Runners-up: 4 (1969, 1972, 1974, 1975); Top-3 finishes: 4; Top-5s: 4

No non-winner has more runner-up finishes at the Masters than Weiskopf, who did it four times in a six-year stretch. In 16 overall starts, Weiskopf missed the cut only once, with seven top-10 finishes and 12 top-25s.

Tom Kite

Starts: 26; Runners-up: 1 (1997); Top-3 finishes: 4; Top-5s: 9

The one time he finished second, it was 12 strokes back of Tiger Woods in 1997. But Kite has four top-three finishes and nine top-fives to his credit/chagrin.

Johnny Miller

Starts: 19; Runners-up: 3 (1971, 1975, 1981); Top-3 finishes: 3; Top-5s: 3

Three runner-up finishes, the most painful coming to rival Jack Nicklaus in 1975.

Ken Venturi

Starts: 14; Runners-up: 2 (1956, 1960); Top-3 finishes: 2; Top-5s: 3

Most memorable is the four-stroke lead he held entering the final round of the 1956 Masters as an amateur, only to shoot a final-round 80 to finish second. Equally painful, though, was the runner-up showing to Arnold Palmer in 1960, when Arnie made birdies on the last two holes to pip Venturi by a shot.

Ernie Els

Starts: 23; Runners-up: 2 (2000, 2004); Top-3 finishes: 2; Top-5s: 3

The South African seemed to be a perennial Masters contender in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Outpaced twice by Woods in that time, his runner-up finish to Phil Mickelson in 2004 was heartbreaking as he shot a closing 67 with two eagles to take the clubhouse lead, only for Lefty to make five birdies over the last seven holes to beat Els by one.

In comparing résumés, Rose has a lower stroke average at Augusta National (71.6) than any of the six above, two of his three career runner-up finishes the result of playoff defeats. His now 16 top-25 finishes are more than any of them as well.

It’s that career the patrons were cheering for on Sunday, and Rose was thankful for it.

“I think people just know I play hard. I try hard. I've been close, Rose said. “You know … I think they just appreciate the effort I guess.”