Justin Rose hits back with humour after tough Doral start sparks McLaren criticism

Justin Rose has issued a light-hearted response to critics questioning his decision to switch to McLaren Golf irons after a difficult opening round at the Cadillac Championship.

The 45-year-old Englishman, who was unveiled earlier this week as McLaren Golf’s first PGA Tour ambassador, made his debut with a new combo set of Series 1 and Series 3 irons at Trump National Doral. 

The move marks a significant shift in equipment for the former world number one, who also holds an equity stake in the brand.

However, Rose’s first competitive outing with the new setup did not quite go to plan.

He opened with a two-over-par 74 on the notoriously demanding Blue Monster course, leaving him 10 shots behind early leader Cameron Young and outside the top 50 in the limited 72-man field.

Young moved into pole position for the PGA Tour's fifth Signature Event of the season after a first-round 64, which marks a new course record at Donald Trump's Doral. 

Rose’s opening lap around Trump National Doral was anything but steady.

He carded two costly double bogeys on the par-fives at the first and eighth holes, alongside four birdies — three of which came in his opening five holes — and additional bogeys at the 11th and 18th.

The result was a frustrating start, particularly given the scrutiny surrounding his mid-season equipment switch ahead of a crucial stretch of the 2026 campaign that includes the PGA Championship, US Open and The Open.

Following his round, Rose faced immediate criticism on social media, with some golf fans questioning whether the switch to McLaren irons had disrupted his recent good form.

Golf analyst Rick Gehman highlighted the severity of the struggles in a post on X.

"That's his second worst ball-striking and worst tee-to-green round of his year," wrote Gehman. 

Rose, however, took the comments in stride and responded with humour. 

"Cheers Rick for the stats... will use DRS tomorrow after that info..." he replied. 

The quip referenced Formula 1’s Drag Reduction System (DRS), a nod to McLaren’s motorsport heritage — although the system has been phased out for the 2026 F1 season.

Rose also engaged with another user who suggested he could miss the cut. 

"Justin Rose missing the cut with his new McLaren irons would be something…." one fan posted on X. 

The world number seven replied: "What odds you giving me??"

The light-hearted exchanges didn’t stop there. 

When another fan joked about securing tickets after enjoying Rose’s social media responses, writing: "Seeing as your liking all my replies, any tickets going?" Rose came back with: "Maybe if I make the cut!"

With no halfway cut in this week’s Signature Event, Rose was quick to underline that he would have the full 72 holes to recover.

While some observers have questioned the timing of Rose’s switch — particularly given his strong recent form — the veteran insists the move is well considered.

Earlier this week, Rose claimed his experience as a former equipment free agent, along with past high-profile changes, has better prepared him for this transition.

“I’ve learned so much from being brand agnostic for a while that I kind of have my own preference list now,” explained Rose, who has spent the past two years working with McLaren on product development, testing prototypes and helping shape the brand's first gen clubs.

“I feel like I’m in an environment where I can take all my preferences to one place where they can execute on that for me. 

“So from my point of view, no, I’m actually looking at what can be better. I’m looking to mitigate risk.”

He added: “Yeah, I’ve done this once before as well in 2019, obviously, and I kind of learned a lot from that process, so I feel in a bit better place now to kind of go down this path.”

Rose’s previous switch in 2019 — when he left TaylorMade for Honma while ranked world number two — offers a useful reference point.

Although he initially enjoyed success, including returning to world number one, the long-term results proved inconsistent.

That experience, combined with a prolonged spell without a full equipment contract, has shaped his current thinking.

“I don’t think I’ve been playing the perfect set of clubs for me,” Rose openly admitted ahead of the Cadillac Championship. 

“I’ve been just kind of playing – I think when you’re not with an equipment manufacturer it’s, there’s a little bit of temptation just to bounce around anyway, there’s so many good options out there.”

The reaction to Rose’s switch is heightened by his recent resurgence.

Earlier this season, he claimed his 13th PGA Tour title at the Farmers Insurance Open and followed it up with a strong run at The Masters, where he finished tied third after briefly leading around the turn during the final round. 

Given that form, some critics have questioned why he would risk disrupting momentum at such a pivotal point in the season.

Despite his slow start at Doral, Rose remains well placed to recover in a no-cut event and demonstrate the long-term benefits of his new equipment.

And given his résumé — which includes a US Open title, Olympic gold medal, FedEx Cup victory, and multiple Ryder Cup triumphs — it would be unwise to draw conclusions from a single round.

Rose has also made no secret of his ambition to complete the career Grand Slam before retiring, suggesting his latest move is part of a broader strategy rather than a short-term gamble.

For now, his response to the noise has been clear: measured, confident — and with just the right touch of humour.