Justin Rose makes honest Ryder Cup admisison ahead of BMW PGA weekend

Justin Rose surged into contention for a first BMW PGA title on home soil at Wentworth on Friday and then made an honest Ryder Cup admission that appeared to be aimed at Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm. 

Rose, 45, carded a brilliant 66 in the second round to move to 11-under par heading into the weekend at the DP World Tour's flagship event of the season. 

The popular Englishman finds himself just one stroke off the pace with two rounds to play on the famous Wentworth West Course. 

Japan's Hideki Matsuyama currently leads the way on 12-under par - and incredibly on his BMW PGA debut.

The former Masters champon fired a stunning 64 on Friday to move one shot clear of European Ryder Cup trio Rose, Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg. 

But back to the top of the story and Rose's comments surrounding the Ryder Cup, which of course takes place at Bethpage Black in New York in two weeks.

Eleven of the 12 European Ryder Cup players on Luke Donald's team are in action this week.

The only absentee is Sepp Straka, who remains on the sidelines due to "personal issues". 

Rose, who captured his 12th PGA Tour title at the FedEx St Jude Championship to earn his automatic spot on Donald's side last month, believes members of the team who are in contention after two rounds at Wentworth will still be fully focused on winning the BMW PGA this Sunday night. 

But he also considers members of Donald's team who find themselves further down the board will likely now be thinking about the Ryder Cup. 

Two high-profile members of the 2025 European Ryder Cup team who have surprisingly struggled over the first two rounds in Virginia Water are pre-tournament favourites Rahm and McIlroy.

Rahm finds himself in a tie for 35th on 4-under par and eight shots behind Matsuyama heading into Saturday's third round, while McIlroy fares a shot worse on 3-under par in a tie for 44th. 

Rose made his feelings about the BMW PGA and Ryder Cup be known when speaking to a pool of reporters after Friday's second round. 

"It would mean a lot [to win the BMW PGA]," said Rose. 

"I can't deny it, I can't hide from it."

"Although this week, to be honest, I think with the Ryder Cup around the corner, there's sort of like -- yeah listen, I was straight into this tournament.

"I said at the beginning of the week that if you get into contention this week, it becomes all about this week and this weekend will be all about this tournament.

"If you're in the middle of the pack, you might start thinking about Bethpage and what-have-you.  

"But yeah, I've got a great weekend ahead of me. I mean, we've got more choppy weather coming in, so it's going to be a little bit of see what happens out there, to be honest with you, but I'm feeling comfortable.

"I think stay aggressive, I guess, because even though the course feels like it's playing tough, opposite the scoreboard wouldn't suggest.

"So yeah, hammer down."

McIlroy endured a rollercoaster second round where he began with three straight bogeys from the 3rd hole.

He then rallied with five birdies in the space of seven holes from around the turn to haul himself back into contention.

But he then ended the day similarly to how he started it with a disastrous double-bogey seven on the par-5 18th.

It all added up to a level 72. 

Rahm has also failed to fire thru 36 holes but he did at least improve on Thursday's peformance with a 69 to progress to 4-under par. 

Shane Lowry, who made up the star-studded three-ball, fell back into the chasing pack with a 74 and he looks on from 3-under par alongside McIlroy. 

All three players declined media interviews after their second round. 

Rose played the first two rounds alongside Tommy Fleetwood, who birdied the final hole to make the cut on the number at 2-under par. 

Rasmus Hojgaard was the only Ryder Cup member to miss the cut on 5-over par. 

Three players, who were all around the cut mark of 2-under par, will return to finish their second round at 7am on Saturday. 

Third round tee times at the BMW PGA will then be made available once they have signed their cards.

The DP World Tour has confirmed to GolfMagic that the third round of the BMW PGA will not begin before 8am.