Golf fans all say same thing after seeing what Rory McIlroy is testing on PGA Tour
PGA Tour Fans React to Rory McIlroy’s Driver Shaft Testing Ahead of Tour Championship Rory McIlroy, currently ranked World No. 3, is testing new driver shafts in preparation for the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup finale at the Tour Championship. This development comes after McIlroy’s unusually inconsistent driving during the BMW Championship, where he finished tied…
PGA Tour Fans React to Rory McIlroy’s Driver Shaft Testing Ahead of Tour Championship
Rory McIlroy, currently ranked World No. 3, is testing new driver shafts in preparation for the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup finale at the Tour Championship. This development comes after McIlroy’s unusually inconsistent driving during the BMW Championship, where he finished tied for 11th. McIlroy’s driving accuracy at the event was below his typical standards, ranking 37th with a 60% accuracy rate.
At Castle Pines Golf Club, McIlroy used a TaylorMade Qi10 Driver fitted with a 45-inch Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X shaft. However, during the BMW Championship’s final round, McIlroy snapped his driver shaft after an errant tee shot on the par-4 9th hole. The incident occurred shortly after he narrowly avoided water on the par-5 17th hole in the second round.
While some might assume the breakage was accidental, many PGA Tour fans believe it was intentional, especially after new video evidence surfaced. Just a day later, McIlroy was seen testing new driver shafts at East Lake, the venue for the final leg of the FedEx Cup race.
According to Gabby Herzig from The Athletic, McIlroy’s broken driver shaft was found resting in a recycling bin on the practice range at East Lake. The decision to bring the broken shaft to the Tour Championship, rather than leaving it behind at the BMW Championship, remains a mystery.
Herzig tweeted, “First order of business for Rory at East Lake: testing new driver shafts,” which elicited a variety of humorous responses from PGA Tour fans. One fan quipped, “Gotta see how they hold up under pressure,” while another joked about the shaft’s “buoyancy.” Others humorously suggested that McIlroy might be testing to see which shaft could best withstand his frustration.
McIlroy’s T11 finish at the BMW Championship caused him to drop one spot in the FedEx Cup standings, placing him sixth as he heads into the Tour Championship. Despite starting six shots behind leader Scottie Scheffler due to the staggered scoring system, McIlroy remains optimistic about his chances. He has previously won the FedEx Cup after starting six shots back, so he knows the challenge is within his reach.
For McIlroy, success this week will likely hinge on his choice of driver shaft, which will need to perform under pressure if he hopes to secure the PGA Tour’s record first prize of $25 million this Sunday. McIlroy begins his first round on Thursday at 1:38 PM local time, paired with European Ryder Cup teammate Ludvig Aberg. For UK fans, that’s 6:38 PM.