Rory McIlroy made his long-awaited return to PGA Tour action at the Truist Championship at Quail Hollow, his first competitive outing since clinching the 2026 Masters in early April. He got off to a sluggish start in the opening round but bounced back brilliantly in the second, carding a four-under 67 to sit at -5, just four strokes adrift of the lead.
McIlroy Steps In for Rose
On the 15th hole, McIlroy stepped in to defend Justin Rose, the former world No. 1 who pushed the Northern Irishman all the way at Augusta last year. Rose was visibly distracted by loud chatter from both spectators and the numerous Quail Hollow volunteers as he lined up his approach shot on the 15th. He stepped away from his ball in frustration, prompting McIlroy to shout "hey" at the onlookers as Rose made a "be quiet" gesture. A spotter followed up with a firm: "Quiet, please."
Rose, who had already made headlines by slamming his club in a moment of fury on Thursday at Quail Hollow, ended the day at -1, eight shots behind leader Im Sung-hae from the Republic of Korea. Tommy Fleetwood (-8) and Adam Fitzpatrick (-7) completed the top four.
McIlroy Praises Rose's Longevity
Rose, the 2013 US Open champion, continues his hunt for a second major title. Reflecting on the 2026 Masters, McIlroy revealed he looks to the 45-year-old Rose's career as a model 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. "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."
However, McIlroy's hopes of claiming a fifth title at the iconic North Carolina venue were dealt a fatal blow, as a disappointing third round left him one under par and 13 shots adrift of tournament leader Alex Fitzpatrick.
McIlroy Reflects on Second Round
This followed a day after he had spoken so encouragingly about his second-round performance. "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. 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."
