Justin Rose has admitted he found the reaction to his wife, Kate, hugging Rory McIlroy 'funny' after the pair embraced at the Masters on Sunday.
Rose pushed his rival all the way at Augusta but ultimately came up short after losing in a tense play-off clash.
After his victory, McIlroy was understandably jubilant.
The 35-year-old had waited 11 years for a major, and 17 years for his first green jacket at Augusta, but is now on top of the world once again.
Justin Rose has admitted he found the reaction to his wife, Kate, hugging Rory McIlroy 'funny' after the pair embraced at the Masters on Sunday
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McIlroy and Kate Rose shared an embrace at Augusta after the golfer etched his name into the history books.
And Rose, speaking ahead of the RBC Heritage tournament, has insisted he's got no issue with that - and that he even found the reaction to the moment 'funny'.
“No, not really," he said when asked if he'd spoken to Kate about the hug.
"There was some article somewhere [saying] like, ‘who's the mystery woman that was hugging Rory?’ It turned out to be Kate. That was pretty funny.
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“Listen, I think in the moment you realise what it means to everybody involved. You realise what it means to other families, what they must be feeling. You're a part of the moment.
“You're a part of the story. You're a part of all of the energy that's going on in that moment. I think that's what happens.
"You embrace that connection that you have with everybody and all that's going on in the moment.
"No, I don't know what she said to him. I don't think that was discussion worthy or anything, to be honest.”
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Justin Rose shot 10 birdies on Sunday as he missed out on Masters glory to Rory McIlroyREUTERSIt was Rose's second play-off defeat at the Masters, having lost to Sergio Garcia in 2017.
The 44-year-old continued: "[There are] mixed emotions for sure.
“A lot of outpouring from people with a lot of positive comments coming at me so trying to absorb that and absorb the week.
“But at the same time looking at my phone and wishing there was a different message there.
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"Having been in that situation before and even more this time, I could really sense what it would be like to win it. I was right there on the edge of winning it obviously.
“I certainly don’t feel down in any way, shape or form because of the performance I was able to put in and how I was able to feel putting in that performance, but just sort of… don’t know what the right word is, tormented probably by the thought of what might have been.
“I take that loss pretty badly. But listen, I was a stone’s throw away from winning the Open [he was runner-up at Troon last year], winning the Masters.
"I would have been going for a Grand Slam at the PGA. It’s like, it can be that close. I’ve got to believe that.”
Justin Rose will be hoping to win the RBC Heritage in Scotland following his recent near-miss at the Masters
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The RBC Heritage commenced on Thursday.
Justin Thomas currently leads the way, with the American ahead of compatriots Russell Henley and Scottie Scheffler.
