US Open: Rory McIlroy makes driver decision at Oakmont

Who would have thought that Rory McIlroy would be toiling with his driver after his history-making start to the year?

McIlroy achieved sporting immortality earlier this season when he secured the Green Jacket and with it, the career grand slam.

A large part of that success was down to a club that he’s excelled with throughout his career.

However, just a few weeks later, that spot in the bag has become something of a sticking point for the 36-year-old.

Famously, his TaylorMade Qi10 was deemed non-conforming ahead of the PGA Championship. That resulted in a new Qi10 going in the bag for that week, where he struggled for form.

• US Open hopeful brands Oakmont rough “unplayable”

• US Open: Bryson DeChambeau makes shock equipment change

Last week, however, there was a new addition to his bag: the TaylorMade Qi35.

Unfortunately for McIlroy, his display off the tee last week was poor by his standards and it contributed to a missed cut.

On Friday evening, McIlroy told reporters that he would be testing several new drivers ahead of this week’s event and judging by his Tuesday practice round, he’s made a decision on the club that’s going in play.

He was pictured using the TaylorMade Qi10 at Oakmont during his Tuesday practice round, his first trip round the brutal US Open venue this week.

After his missed cut in Canada last weekend, McIlroy explained that the switch at the top of the bag hadn’t worked out as he would have hoped.

“I came here obviously with a new driver thinking that that sort of was going to be good and solve some of the problems off the tee, but it didn’t,” he said after an unusually poor second round of 78.

“Going to Oakmont next week, what you need to do more than anything else there is hit fairways. Still sort of searching for the sort of missing piece off the tee.

• McEwan: Rory McIlroy and the unknowable ‘next’

• TaylorMade Spider ZT makes zero torque simple

“For me, when I get that part of the game clicking, then everything falls into place for me. Right now that isn’t. Yeah, that’s a concern going into next week.

“I was saying to Harry going down the last this is the second time this year I’ve tried the new version, and it hasn’t quite worked out for me. So, I’d say I’ll be testing quite a few drivers over the weekend.”

For now, it looks like that testing has lead him back to the club that was in the bag at the start of the season. The five-time major champion will now be hoping that reverting to the TaylorMade Qi10 driver will see a return to his blistering early season form.

Lewis Fraser As bunkered’s Performance Editor, Lewis oversees the content that’s designed to make you a better player. From the latest gear to tuition, nutrition, strategy and more, he’s the man. A graduate of the University of Stirling, Lewis joined bunkered in 2021. Formerly a caddie at Castle Stuart Golf Links, he is a member of Bathgate Golf Club where he plays off four.

Performance Editor