Rory McIlroy came to the defense of his former Ryder Cup teammate Justin Rose during the second round of the Truist Championship at Quail Hollow on Friday afternoon
Rory McIlroy is a four-time winner at Quail Hollow in North Carolina(Image: Getty Images)
The Truist Championship at Quail Hollow marked Rory McIlroy’s first PGA appearance since winning the 2026 Masters Championship in early April. He started slowly in the first round but closed the second brilliantly, hitting a four-under 67 to see him finish at -5 and just four strokes off the lead.
On the 15th hole, McIlroy had to come to the defense of Justin Rose, the former world No. 1 who closely battled the Northern Irishman for the 2025 Masters Championship.
Rose overhead loud side conversations from both fans and the copious Quail Hollow volunteers as he prepared for his approach shot on the 15th hole.
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He left his stance frustrated, causing McIlroy to shout “hey” at the onlookers as Rose made a “be quiet” gesture. A spotter shouted, “Quiet, please.”
Rose, who slammed his golf club after a fit of rage on Thursday at Quail Hollow, finished the day at -1, eight shots behind leader Im Sung-hae from the Republic of Korea. Tommy Fleetwood (-8) and Adam Fitzpatrick (-7) rounded out the top four.
McIlroy and Justin Rose together at the 2025 Truist Championship(Image: Getty Images)
Rose, the 2013 U.S. Open winner, is still searching for a second major championship.
Speaking after the 2026 Masters, McIlroy revealed that he uses the 45-year-old Rose’s career as a blueprint for his own.
“What he [Rose] is doing at his age is incredible, and I think everyone would love to see him get another major, because I think he deserves it,” McIlroy told Sky Sports.
McIlroy endured a brutal third round at the Truist Championship(Image: Getty Images)
“What Rose is doing is sort of the blueprint for me. I feel like I can look at him and see myself competing at the highest level when I’m that age, as well.”
McIlroy started his third round at Quail Hollow at +4 through 15 holes, tanking his chances of winning a fifth straight title at the famous North Carolina venue.
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This came a day after speaking so positively of his second-round showing. “It was a solid day,” McIlroy said. “I wouldn’t say I played a lot better than yesterday, but I scored a little bit better.”
“I started to make some good swings, especially with the irons,” he added. “I played one tournament in seven weeks, so I think just getting the reps under my belt a little bit and getting a scorecard in my hand.
“I feel like your patterns on the golf course are always a little bit different than your patterns on the range, or it is for me anyway.”