Rory McIlroy forced to intervene after crowd incident at Truist Championship

Rory McIlroy was forced to intervene following a crowd incident at the Truist Championship.

During the second round, the Northern Irishman came to the defence of fellow competitor Justin Rose on the 15th hole.

Rose, a former world number one who recently challenged McIlroy closely at Augusta, found himself unable to concentrate on his approach shot due to excessive noise from the gallery and course volunteers.

The 45-year-old backed away from his ball, clearly frustrated by the disturbance.

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McIlroy responded by shouting "hey" towards the crowd while Rose gestured for silence, with a spotter subsequently calling for quiet.

Rose had already drawn attention earlier in the tournament after throwing his club down in anger during Thursday's opening round at the North Carolina venue.

The 2013 US Open winner finished the second day on one under par, sitting eight strokes behind the pacesetter Im Sung-hae of South Korea.

Tommy Fleetwood occupied second place at eight under, with Adam Fitzpatrick a shot further back in fourth position.

Rose continues to pursue a second major championship, having waited more than a decade since his breakthrough victory at Merion.

His frustrations at Quail Hollow reflect the pressure of that lengthy search for another significant title.

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McIlroy has spoken warmly about his admiration for Rose's continued excellence at the top level of professional golf.

Speaking to Sky Sports, the Masters champion reflected on what the Englishman's career means to him.

"What he 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 said.

The 36-year-old views Rose's sustained competitiveness as a template for his own future in the sport.

"What Rose is doing is sort of the blueprint for me," he added.

"I feel like I can look at him and see myself competing at the highest level when I'm that age, as well."

McIlroy's opening round proved difficult, but he recovered impressively on day two with a score of 67, four under par, to reach five under for the tournament.

That left him just four shots off the pace, prompting optimism about his chances at a venue where he has previously triumphed four times.

"It was a solid day," McIlroy reflected.

"I started to make some good swings, especially with the irons."

He acknowledged the challenge of returning after limited competition, noting he had played just one event in seven weeks.

However, a poor third round saw him slip to one under overall, leaving him 13 strokes adrift of leader Alex Fitzpatrick.

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