One of the biggest stories in professional golf over the last several weeks has been Rory McIlroy’s driver—arguably the biggest weapon in his bag. When you routinely bomb it more than 315 yards and lead the PGA Tour in most driving metrics, it’s natural to gawk when the driver is unsheathed.
The problem is that no one is talking about McIlroy’s prowess off the tee, but rather how his TaylorMade’s Qi10 driver reportedly was deemed non-conforming at the PGA Championship. After allowing the driver questions to go unanswered at Quail Hollow, McIlroy cleared the air Wednesday during his pre-tournament press conference at the RBC Canadian Open.
“I was a little pissed off because I knew that Scottie’s driver had failed on Monday, but my name was the one that was leaked,” he said, essentially confirming the reports. “It was supposed to stay confidential. Two members of the media were the ones that leaked it.
“Again, I didn’t want to get up there and say something that I regretted, either, because there’s a lot of people that … I’m trying to protect Scottie. I don’t want to mention his name. I’m trying to protect TaylorMade. I’m trying to protect the USGA, PGA of America, myself.”
Even with an identical driver build in the bag at the PGA Championship, McIlroy never seemed to get going off the tee, leading to an underwhelming T-47 finish at a course he’s dominated in the past and in a tournament where he was a favorite.
A lack of success with the driver at the PGA Championship led McIlroy to conduct head-to-head testing at home in preparation for an even more demanding test that awaits next week at the U.S. Open. What he eventually settled on during testing was a familiar setup featuring TaylorMade’s Qi35 driver (9 degrees) and 3-wood (15 degrees).
For McIlroy, the decision to reinsert Qi35—he played it briefly at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March—was done with one thing in mind: hitting more fairways next week at Oakmont Country Club.
McIlroy tested the clubs during a recent practice round at Oakmont and officially put them in play for the second time on Thursday at TPC Toronto. Unlike the initial Qi35 woods he used for three rounds at Bay Hill Club (McIlroy eventually went back to Qi10), the driver was built roughly an inch shorter than his previous gamer at 44 5/8 inches.
It’s a move that suggests Rory’s prioritizing control over max carry, especially with Oakmont’s claustrophobic landing areas lurking.
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While the length has changed, the rest of the build remains familiar. He’s still gaming Fujikura’s Ventus Black 6X shaft and keeping the same swing weight, preserving the overall feel that’s worked well for him this season.
The driver wasn’t the only club to get a refresh. McIlroy also dropped in a Qi35 3-wood, mirroring the spec of his outgoing Qi10. Consistency appears to be the play here—same look, same launch window, just with the latest iteration from TaylorMade.
Beyond the change to Qi35, McIlroy reinserted a P770 3-iron, which replaces the Qi10 5-wood. According to TaylorMade reps, McIlroy consistently carries the long iron 250-plus yards off the deck with a flight profile that plays well in firm, fast conditions.
With Oakmont looming, McIlroy’s bag setup reads like someone who’s done the homework. A shorter driver for tighter tee shots, a trusted long iron for precision off the deck and a gear strategy built around shaping shots and controlling spin. No doubt, he’s gearing up for a U.S. Open grind.
This article was originally published on golfdigest.com
