After starting the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational in a share of 10th place with a score of 3-under, Rory McIlroy made significant changes to his bag in an attempt to improve his performance. The Northern Irishman added a driver, 5-wood, 3-wood, 3-iron, and a gap wedge to his equipment, all from TaylorMade’s Qi10 series, which he had used to win at Pebble Beach a few weeks prior. This was a departure from the Qi35 series he had started the tournament with, and McIlroy explained that he needed to get comfortable with his equipment to perform his best.
McIlroy stated that the goal with these changes was to regain the accuracy with his driving that had helped him succeed at Pebble Beach and Torrey Pines in previous tournaments. Despite these adjustments, McIlroy’s performance in the final round did not see a significant improvement, as he carded three birdies and three bogeys for an even-par round and a 3-under total for 72 holes. This left him in a tie for 15th place on the leaderboard, dropping him even further down from his starting position. In the previous round, McIlroy had carded a 1-over 73 with four birdies and five bogeys, while his opening two rounds had been better with a pair of 2-under 70s.
McIlroy’s decision to switch back to his old equipment was based on his desire to return to what he was familiar and comfortable with on the course. The Northern Irishman explained that he had tried new woods for the first three days of the tournament, but they did not yield the results he had hoped for. By going back to his old driver, fairway wood, and other familiar clubs, McIlroy aimed to recapture the form that had led to his success in previous events, particularly in terms of his driving accuracy. Despite the change, McIlroy’s final round performance did not see a significant improvement in his overall standing.
The Golf Channel’s coverage of the Arnold Palmer Invitational highlighted McIlroy’s decision to make changes to his bag during the final round, emphasizing the significance of these adjustments for the four-time major champion. The inclusion of new clubs from TaylorMade’s Qi10 series marked a departure from the equipment he had started the tournament with, signaling McIlroy’s willingness to adapt and experiment in search of improved performance. Ultimately, the changes did not have the desired impact on McIlroy’s final round, as he struggled to make up ground on the leaderboard and finished in a tie for 15th place in the event.
McIlroy’s experience at the Arnold Palmer Invitational served as a reminder of the challenges and uncertainties that professional golfers face when making equipment changes mid-tournament. Despite his best efforts to improve his performance through adjustments to his bag, McIlroy was unable to achieve the desired results in the final round. The experience may inform his approach to future tournaments and equipment decisions, as he continues to strive for success on the PGA Tour.
