Rory McIlroy Faces Driver Issues Ahead of US Open
Rory McIlroy seems to be struggling with his driver as he approaches the US Open next week.
After missing the cut by 12 strokes at the RBC Canadian Open, McIlroy shot an 8-over 78 this past Friday. It’s worth noting, the last time he recorded a score of 78 was during the first round of the 2024 season opener.
McIlroy expressed concern about his performance, describing his round as “worrisome.” He recorded four bogeys, one double bogey, and only two birdies. “You don’t want to shoot a high score like I did today,” he admitted. Interestingly, he also mentioned that he believed using a new driver would alleviate some of his tee issues, but, well, that didn’t turn out to be the case.
His driver situation has been a point of scrutiny since a leak during the PGA Championship last month. There was some chatter about non-conforming drivers that didn’t pass pre-tournament testing. Notably, Scotty Scheffler, who won at Quazur Hollow Club, also had a driver that didn’t fit the regulations, but his details weren’t public until later. McIlroy opted to skip media sessions during the tournament, finishing tied for 47th place.
Before he teed off in Toronto, McIlroy voiced his frustration over the breach of confidentiality regarding his driver situation. “I was a bit upset because I knew the Scotty driver had failed on Monday, yet my name got leaked,” he said during a press conference. “It was meant to be kept confidential, but two members of the media let it out.” He also mentioned he didn’t want to expose his fellow golfer, nor disclose specifics that could hurt TaylorMade, the manufacturer of his clubs.
This week, as he gears up with his new driver, there’s a spotlight on his performance. McIlroy is recognized as one of the best drivers on tour and is currently first in strokes gained off the tee while averaging 319.3 yards. However, his accuracy has taken a hit, ranking 170th with a fairway hit percentage of just over 51%.
With the upcoming US Open at Oakmont Country Club—famed for its challenging rough—McIlroy, indeed, needs to sharpen his game. If he has some time to adjust to the driver, he might improve before the tournament kicks off on Thursday.
