There’s old faithful and then there’s really old faithful. At Royal Portrush, Robert MacIntyre is challenging to become Champion Golfer of the Year with a club in the bag that dates back to 2014 – or when MacIntyre was a mere teenager.
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How far back does the TaylorMade AeroBurner fairway wood date? Well. The clubhead is white; remember when those were in vogue? The club features an aerodynamic shape with a shallow face, raised centre crown and hosel fin along with a sole slot “Speed Pocket” to enhance rebound and reduce spin.
Distance, however, is not the reason MacIntyre keeps this museum piece in the bag. It is a key shot-shaper off the tee for him that he relies on, a particularly useful weapon at an event such as the Open Championship, where precise play off the tee is key to avoid shot-grabbing pot bunkers and tall grass.
Introducing the bag this week @theopen 💛😍 pic.twitter.com/A2fO7vnDcj
— Robert MacIntyre (@robert1lefty) July 16, 2025
Although it is unusual for a player to hold onto clubs for more than a decade, it is not without precedent (putters excepted). Henrik Stenson played a Callaway Diablo Octane fairway wood forever (with the same Grafalloy blue shaft) and it is well known that fairway woods are generally regarded as the most difficult clubs to get out of a player’s bag once they settle in with them.
Still, for MacIntyre, who currently resides within the top 10 on the leaderboard, he might need to find a replacement soon. His current gamer has a face that is considerably worn and given its usage, it could go at any time.
The good news is that the former Scottish Open champion won’t have to dig deep into his pockets to find a replacement. According to the PGA Value Guide, the price of a TaylorMade AeroBurner fairway wood in average condition is a mere $US16.15 ($A24).
