Justin Thomas and Rory McIlroy did not exchange the usual handshake after their Friday round at Muirfield Village. Instead, they shared a brief hug. And Thomas' explanation later made it easy to understand that heartfelt moment.

The Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village was a brutal one on Friday, thanks to the challenging gusty winds playing stronger than expected. After the round, when asked if the hug was a "we survived" one, Thomas said,

"It was a mutual hug."

"We just looked at each other, and I think we both, we were like, we need a hug. He probably realized I needed one, maybe more," he added.

Thomas shot a 3-over 75 on Friday and made the cut right on the line. McIlroy shot a 74. Both players were grouped and had to play in strong winds of 20 to 25 mph.

The wind kept shifting direction throughout the day, leaving players guessing on shots over water with no safe bailout options available.

"I can't put into words how hard that was," Thomas said. "That was the hardest round of golf that I can remember, major, non-major, it was just insane. You don't have a bailout on half your shots out here, so you have a lot of shots over water, and you're like, well, I hope it's helping, or I hope it's not hurting."

Thomas needed a par on the par-4 18th hole to make the cut. He played a flop shot from behind the green and then made a 6-foot putt for par to stay in the tournament.

On the 18th green, something unusual happened again, just like the day before.

Thomas's ball landed right on top of McIlroy's coin marker. He had to mark and move his ball, wait for McIlroy to putt, and then place his marker back before taking his own putt.

Justin Thomas Left Stunned by J.T. Poston's 7-Under Round on the Same Day

Thomas finished the round at 5 over for the tournament and sat T47 heading into the weekend. On the same day, J.T. Poston shot a 7-under 65 on the same course in the same conditions.

Thomas posted on X after the round to put Poston's 65 into context alongside his own struggle.

"I don't think I can put into words how good J.T. Poston's round was today," Thomas wrote. "I'm out there trying to figure out where and how I can make ONE birdie, let alone shooting -7! Today was probably the most difficult round I've played on tour."

Poston's 65 was four shots better than the next lowest score on the day. The average score across the field crept above 74.

Not just Thomas, even Ryan Gerard, who shot 69 and sits in second there, said, “Mentally and physically this place is a monster.”

With such a brutal day at Muirfield Village, Thomas and McIlroy's hug said it all. What do you think? Tell us in the comments.

Read more at Club Golf!

Written by

Sneha Abraham

Edited by

Suyashdeep Sason