Rory McIlroy’s driver deemed non-conforming at PGA Championship

Rory McIlroy was reportedly forced to switch drivers on the eve of this week’s PGA Championship.

According to Jason Sobel of SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio, the Masters champion’s “gamer” driver, which he used at Augusta National last month, was deemed non-conforming by the USGA on Tuesday.

The 35-year-old, now one of only six players to have completed the career grand slam, switched drivers prior to yesterday’s opening round at Quail Hollow.

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The likeliest explanation for his driver – a TaylorMade Qi10 – being non-conforming is simply overuse.

If it was the same club that McIlroy used to finally get over the line in the men’s opening major of the year, then chances are it has only now exceeded specification.

A similar incident unfolded at Royal Portrush in 2019, when Xander Schauffele revealed that his Callaway Epic Flash Sub Zero driver had failed the R&A’s random characteristic time test.

It is a measure of the spring-like effect of the club face.

Limits set by the USGA and the R&A dictate that a driver’s CT must be no higher than 239 microseconds.

However, that number can reach 257 microseconds due to manufacturing tolerances.

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Callaway CEO Chip Brewer defended his man, a now two-time major champion, and questioned the confidentiality of the R&A’s testing process.

“I believe the testing process should be more confidential,” he said. “Multiple drivers failed the CT test at the Open Championship and yet Xander is the one who is being talked about. That’s probably wrong and needs to be addressed.”

Meanwhile, McIlroy made the cut at the championship on even-par, despite a wobbly start.

After an opening 74, the Northern Irishman made six birdies on day two to narrowly advance to the weekend.

He sits nine shots behind runaway leader Jhonattan Vegas – and much of that can be put down to McIlroy’s driving, his biggest strength on the golf course.

McIlroy ranked 152nd in driving accuracy for the first two rounds, while he ranks T30 in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee at the halfway stage.

John Turnbull A graduate of the University of Stirling, John joined the bunkered team in 2023 as a Content Producer, with a responsibility for covering all breaking news, tour news, grassroots content and much more besides. A keen golfer, he plays the majority of his golf at Falkirk Tryst Golf Club. Top of his 'bucket list' is a round of Pebble Beach... ideally in the company of Gareth Bale.