AUGUSTA, Ga. – Justin Rose treats his body like a temple.
The 44-year-old Rose has battled nagging back injuries in recent years and he isn’t getting any younger. It has led him to take extreme measures to keep his body healthy enough to perform at the highest level.
But Rose isn’t just eating a salad instead of a burger and fries. He purchased his own traveling gym, what he termed a “recovery room,” which goes from tournament to tournament and allows him to work out and do cold plunges and the like. It’s here this week for the 89th Masters and it’s no stretch to say that it has played an integral role in his preparation for battling with the young bucks on the PGA Tour.
“Got to stay young,” Rose said on Friday after shooting 1-under 71 at Augusta National.
Justin Rose has a traveling sauna
Speaking to Golfweek in 2023, he described it as “a stripped-down RV with hot and cold plunges, steamed shower and infrared sauna and all those other modalities. It’s a place for me to go. It has a coffee machine and all the creature comforts.”
On Friday, Rose added, “How do I mitigate that extra load on my body to stay willing and able and capable enough to compete out here.”
One day after shooting a blistering 7-under 65 to grab the first-round lead for a Masters record fifth time in his career, Rose looked young and nimble en route to improving to a 36-hole total of 8-under 144 and the third time he’s held or shared the 36-hole lead.
“Total package type golf for two days,” said Max Homa, who was grouped with Rose in a threesome. “He was very consistent through the bag. Like when he was out of position, a chip was great, holed a lot of putts, and hit enough awesome drives and awesome shots to make a bunch of birdies.”
Justin Rose has been in this position at Augusta
Rose hasn’t only held the 18- and 36-hole leads, he’s owned the 54-hole lead and shared the 72-hole lead in 2017, only to lose in a sudden-death playoff to Sergio Garcia.
“Sometimes you just have to knock on the door,” Rose said. “I don't think I can do anything differently.”
Rose won the 2013 U.S. Open at Merion and has achieved career milestones such as Ryder Cup glory, reaching world No. 1 and FedEx Cup champion in the ensuing years since his major success.
“Twelve years slips by pretty quick,” he said. “But like I said, it doesn't necessarily feel like -- I haven't been dwelling on that fact at all, really.”
He has referred to this stage of his career as Indian Summer. No one 40 years of age or older has won this season on the PGA Tour –
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