Augusta, GA

Justin Rose coping with the ‘torment’ of Masters close call

Published

11 months ago

April 17, 2025

Justin Rose coping with the ‘torment’ of Masters close call

Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, right, greets Justin Rose, of England, after winning in a playoff after the final round the Masters golf tournament, Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
AP

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. — The farther Justin Rose drove from Augusta National only made him realize how close he came to winning the Masters.

His phone kept buzzing on the way to Hilton Head Island, one text after another, all of them with the same message that applauded his remarkable rally and offered commiseration and condolences for his runner-up finish to Rory McIlroy.

Rose started the final round seven shots out of the lead, too far back to think about winning. He made a 20-foot birdie putt on the 18th for a 66. He was in a sudden-death playoff. He lost on a great shot by McIlroy, who hit gap wedge to 3 feet for birdie.

It was a lot to process.

“A lot of outpouring from people with a lot of positive comments coming at me, so trying to absorb that, trying to absorb the week,” Rose said Wednesday at the RBC Heritage. “But at the same time, looking at my phone and just wishing there was a different message there.”

This is a path he knows well.

Rose had a 2-shot lead with six holes to play in the 2017 Masters when Sergio Garcia — like McIlroy, a good friend — made a most improbable rally to force a playoff and beat Rose on the first extra hole.

Rose was classy in defeat that day in 2017. He lovingly patted Garcia’s cheek, they embraced, and then Rose tapped Garcia on the heart. He knew what it meant for a talented Spaniard who had played 70 majors before winning.

He was equally gracious on Sunday, telling McIlroy when it was over he was happy to witness such a momentous occasion of the career Grand Slam.

It still hurts.

He searched for the right words. Rose was proud of how he played to match the low score of the final round with a 66. In one of those must-make moments in a major, he poured in a birdie on the last hole. There was a lot that went right. But there was no green jacket.

“Just sort of … don’t know what the right word is,” he said. “Tormented, probably, by the thought of what might have been.”

He joined Ben Hogan as the only player to lose a playoff twice at the Masters, and it might have stung worse for Rose because both his losses were in sudden-death. He now has had at least a share of the lead after 12 rounds at the Masters, fourth on the list behind Jack Nicklaus (19), Arnold Palmer (18) and Gary Player (12), who have combined to win 13 green jackets.

He has 23 wins worldwide, including a major at the U.S. Open and an Olympic gold medal in Rio de Janeiro. He also has the distinction of congratulating a Masters champion on the 18th green three times in the last 10 years — Jordan Spieth in 2015, Garcia in 2017, McIlroy on Sunday.

The last time he lost the Masters in a playoff, Rose said it lingered for about a month. Sure, he made a few bogeys he’d like to have back from the final round Sunday. That’s true for anyone at any golf tournament. There’s still the sting of seeing someone else win.

Rose would rather look back to what followed after that 2017 loss. He went on to win three more times that year, including his second World Golf Championships title. He won the FedEx Cup the following year and rose to No. 1 in the world for the first time.

“If I look back to my best golf, 2017 August through to the end of ’18 is probably the most consistently good golf that I’ve ever played,” Rose said. “Obviously, I was a little bit more in the prime of my career around that time, or you could argue more prime.”

Rose, who turned pro as a teenager in 1998, will be 45 at the end of July.

“But I don’t see any reason that can’t be the same this time around,” he said. “I’m working well. I’m working hard. I’m feeling good about my game. I’ve been saying all year that my game is good. I’ve just got to make sure that I’m playing consistently well enough to give myself those opportunities, because majors come around … only four times a year.”

Rose can’t help but think how little it would take for him to be going to the PGA Championship next month at Quail Hollow with a shot at the career Grand Slam himself — briefly tied for the Sunday lead at Royal Troon, a playoff loss at the Masters.

“The last two majors I’ve been right there and been beaten by the top players in the world at the peak of their game,” he said.

What keeps him going at this stage? He will have completed his 28th year as a pro in July.

It’s moments like Sunday, being in the thick of it, delivering clutch moments. There was the birdie putt on the 18th at Augusta. There was that 8-foot putt on the 18th hole at the Ryder Cup in 2023 that earned a key halve. There was that walk up the 18th at Royal Troon last summer with thousands on their feet showing appreciation.

“I’m close to kind of some seriously good stuff,” Rose said.

Justin Rose reacts after missing an eagle putt on the 13th hole during the final round at the Masters golf tournament, Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
AP

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Augusta, GA

CSRA Habitat for Humanity gets $1.85M to build affordable housing in Augusta

Published

9 hours ago

March 26, 2026

Press Room

CSRA Habitat for Humanity gets .85M to build affordable housing in Augusta

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Augusta/CSRA Habitat for Humanity has been awarded $1.85 million to build new affordable homes in Augusta’s historic Turpin Hill neighborhood.

The federal funding was secured with the support of Georgia’s U.S. Senators Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock.

The funding will expand housing opportunities for working families and revitalize one of Augusta’s oldest communities.

“Turpin Hill is one of Augusta’s oldest and most storied neighborhoods, a community built by generations of hardworking families whose roots run deep in this city,” said Bernadette Kelliher, President and CEO of Augusta/CSRA Habitat for Humanity.

“These new homes will reflect the strength of the neighborhood’s past while creating a foundation for families to build their futures. This is about restoration, dignity, and ensuring that the next generation can write their own chapter in this historic community.”

This federal investment strengthens ongoing efforts to expand affordable housing opportunities across Augusta.

“Georgia families urgently need more affordable housing. That’s why Senator Reverend Warnock and I brought Republicans and Democrats together to strengthen the Augusta/CSRA Habitat for Humanity’s efforts to build new housing units for families across Augusta and the CSRA,” said Ossoff.

Senator Raphael Warnock added, “This investment demonstrates what is possible when Congress works together to support communities and families in need. We are in a housing crisis. America is not building enough housing and costs are continuing to soar.”

Since its founding in 1986, Augusta/CSRA Habitat for Humanity has partnered with families, volunteers and community supporters to build and preserve homes throughout the Central Savannah River Area.

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Augusta, GA

More Augusta homes available for Masters week rentals as homeowners rush to prepare

Published

21 hours ago

March 25, 2026

Press Room

More Augusta homes available for Masters week rentals as homeowners rush to prepare

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – More homes are available for rent during Masters week this year compared to last year, with some homeowners scrambling to prepare their properties in the final weeks before the tournament.

Some homeowners have been preparing for months, while others are trying to complete renovations in the remaining weeks before the tournament.

Julia Quick, a homeowner, said her family has been working on improvements every night. Her husband handles repairs and projects, while she packs a room each evening after work. The family hired Carolina Carpentry and Construction to paint the house and brought in cleaners this week as a trial run for next week.

“We’ve got some landscapers come in Saturday, got pallets of sod and pine straw and mulch to be put out and some new plants,” Quick said.

More homeowners enter rental market

Quick said more people are renting their homes this year compared to last year.

“Everybody I talked to was talking about renting their house this year, and last year, most everybody was talking about not renting their house. So it seems that it’s more saturated,” Quick said.

Stacey Greenway, vice president of tournament housing, said she has never seen this many homes registering this late in the season.

“I definitely think that with Helene remodeling everything, it gave a lot of homeowners the opportunity to get into the rental market,” Greenway said.

Greenway said the number of homes registering has increased. In March, three to five homes typically register per week. Now three to five homes are registering daily.

“A lot of people are still not rented, so they’re starting to reach out to other agencies and list with those as well,” Greenway said.

Homeowners adjusting strategies

Some homeowners are lowering prices, booking vacations to leave Augusta or leaving keys with rental companies in hopes their properties will be rented while they are gone.

Quick said she has noticed less traffic on rental platforms.

“I noticed a lot less traffic because like with Airbnb when I went through there, I can see and have some conversations back and forth,” Quick said.

Quick said the increased supply could benefit visitors but may affect future rental decisions for homeowners.

“It’ll be great for people coming into town because that’s going to drive the price down. Might make it not as lucrative for us to rent our house out in the future because if I can’t, first we have to pay for the vacation and doing all the things because I’m not going to rent the house if it doesn’t look perfect for somebody to come stay in,” Quick said.

Rental companies said some homeowners are willing to accept lower prices this year and hope for better rates next year.

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Augusta, GA

Best of the Gridiron: Top CSRA high school football athletes honored

Published

1 day ago

March 25, 2026

Press Room

Best of the Gridiron: Top CSRA high school football athletes honored

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The latest edition of the Best of the Gridiron Awards show is in the books.

Presented by the Augusta Sports Council, here’s a full list of the high school football athletes recognized for their performances during the 2025 season.

GEORGIA — FIRST TEAM

Offense

QB: Mekhi Wade — Lincoln County
RB: Tamari Curry — Westside
RB: Kelby Glaze — Lincoln County
WR: Jayden Futrell — Harlem
WR: Jaris Sinkfield — Thomson
OL: Solomon Mathis — Hephzibah
OL: Carter Messick — Grovetown
OL: Bryan Sapp — Burke County
OL: Liam Thompson — Harlem

Special Teams / Flex

Athlete: Jack Rhodes — Aquinas
Kicker: Fortson Partridge — Lincoln County
Punter: Shelton Freeman — Westside

Defense

DL: De’Antre Charles — Westside
DL: TK Reeves — Burke County
DL: Marcus Taylor — Laney
DL: Jeremiah Wynn — Lincoln County
LB: Chase Burley — Westside
LB: Logan Heyward — Hephzibah
LB: Elijah Hutchinson — Aquinas
LB: Marty Thomas — ARC
DB: Kennedi Bailey — Thomson
DB: Brennen Bjorkman — Greenbrier
DB: Zay Brinson — Thomson
DB: Joshua Crawford — Westside

SOUTH CAROLINA — FIRST TEAM

Offense

QB: Xavier Geter — Midland Valley
RB: Michael Doe — North Augusta
RB: Preston Smith — Midland Valley
WR: Kyson McLeod — South Aiken
WR: Shaheed Williams — Strom Thurmond
OL: Carter Boatwright — Strom Thurmond
OL: Malcolm Gaston — North Augusta
OL: Damien McIntosh — Aiken
OL: Seth Short — North Augusta

Special Teams / Flex

Athlete: Kaleb Simpkins — Strom Thurmond
Kicker: Jacob DeGennaro — North Augusta
Punter: Knox Young — South Aiken

Defense

DL: Simeon Jones — North Augusta
DL: Davion McKinnis — North Augusta
DL: Brandon Poston — Aiken
DL: Keyaideen Williams — Silver Bluff
LB: Grayson Kitchings — Aiken
LB: Jalen McGraw — Bamberg-Ehrhardt
LB: Akiem Mills — Ridge Spring-Monetta
LB: Deonte Phillips — Strom Thurmond
DB: Donte Bell — North Augusta
DB: Jaiden Holloway — Ridge Spring-Monetta
DB: Mekhi Quiller — Fox Creek
DB: Dallas Williams — North Augusta

Along with the over 50 award winners, the event also recognized the nation’s top Division-1 and FCS college punters.

Georgia’s Brett Thorson took home the 2025 Ray Guy Award back in December.

The born and raised Australian punted 42 times during Georgia’s 2025 season, averaging 45-yards per punt.

“Obviously, Georgia is home for me. Obviously, I don’t have a hometown that I have any bias to, so since moving here, Georgia has been home for me. It’s an extreme honor to keep it, and to know Ray was from Georgia himself is a nice little bit of icing on top,” said Thorson.

The Citadel’s James Platte was awarded the FCS Punter of the Year Award.

An award that seemed way out of reach during his early playing days.

“It’s a dream come true. Growing up always seeing all the Ray Guy awards coming out of here, especially when I was getting into punting a lot heavier in high school. It was always an aspiration and if you told me six years ago I was going to be here, I probably would have called you a liar,” said Platte.

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