Rory McIlroy needed to produce clutch golf shots down the stretch at the Zurich Classic and relied on his Qi10 driver and TP5x to complete a thrilling victory in playoff fashion at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. The win marks McIlroy’s 25th on the PGA TOUR moving him into T23 all-time on the PGA TOUR wins list.
On the 72nd hole, McIlroy hit his drive to the middle of the fairway and then perfectly executed a pitch shot from off the green to set his partner up for an up-and-down birdie birdie chance which his partner drained with his Spider Tour Z to force a playoff. Then, on the playoff hole, McIlroy hit the fairway again before getting his teammate on the green and tapping in the winning par putt.
RORY'S WINNING WITB
- Qi10 9.0° driver (Ventus Black 6X)
- Qi10 15.0° 3-wood (Ventus Black 8X)
- Qi10 18.0° 5-wood (Ventus Black 9X)
- P·Series Proto 4-iron (Project X 7.0)
- Rors Proto Irons 5-9 (Project X 7.0)
- Milled Grind 4 46° SB, 50° SB, 54° SB (Project X 6.5)
- Spider Tour X Putter
- 2024 TP5x Golf Ball
INSIDE THE FIT: RORY’S Qi10 DRIVER
The story of Rory McIlroy’s Qi10 driver starts at TaylorMade’s content shoot in the fall of 2023. Between what was built for Rory and what was built for the rest of Team TaylorMade, just about every driver build possible was on the range that day.
Amongst the heads in Rory’s bag, was something that traditionally wouldn’t be the type of driver the four-time major champion would play: the larger head profile and more forgiving Qi10 driver.
Compared to Qi10 LS, beyond just the larger shape, Rory noticed when he took the Qi10 home for testing that he found the center of the face more often with the help of more MOI in Qi10 vs LS. That then sparked a thought in Rory’s head of if he could return back to a longer driver shaft to get more distance while also having the forgiveness of the Qi10 head.
In years past, Rory shortened his driver shaft to 44 inches as it tightened his dispersion off the tee compared to a longer length shaft. Now with the Qi10, Rory had a chance for the first time in a few years to be able to go back to a longer shaft at 45 inches without sacrificing any change in dispersion.
That’s exactly what happened and Rory made the switch to a 45-inch Ventus Black 6X, the same shaft profile as his Qi10 fairway woods. With the new setup, Rory is cruising at 186 MPH ball speed and 330-yards carry.
The win at the Zurich Classic marks Rory’s second in 2024 with Qi10 driver after securing his recorded setting fourth win at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic in just his second start with the driver. Entering this week, McIlroy was first in Total Driving and third in Driving Distance.
- Head: Qi10 9.0°
- Measured Loft: 8.25°
- Loft Sleeve: 1.5° sleeve set to one click lower
- Lie: 57.5°
- Shaft: Ventus Black 6X
- Length: 45''
- Tipping: 1’’
- Swingweight: D4
- Grip: Golf Pride Multi-Compound Blackout (1+1 Wraps Logo Up)
INSIDE RORY'S SWITCH TO 2024 TP5x
RORY'S SPIDER TOUR X SPEC
Rory and his partner played Spider Tour X and Spider Tour Z respectively to secure the win at the Zurich Classic. It was the eighth win this season on the PGA TOUR for Spider putters and ninth worldwide including Rory's win at the Dubai Desert Classic.
Below is Rory's winning spec:
- Head: Spider Tour X
- Hosel: Short Slant
- Shaft: Black Stepless
- Length: 34 1/2 EOG
- Loft: 2.7°
- Lie: 69.5°
- Swingweight: E1.5
- Grip: SuperStroke Pistol Tour
- Wraps: 1
RORY'S STOCK YARDAGES
Irish eyes are smiling!
— TaylorMade Golf (@TaylorMadeGolf) April 28, 2024
No matter the format, @McIlroyRory and his partner were up to the task in The Big Easy en route to a win at The Zurich Classic.
This is the 25th win of Rors’ career! #BeyondDriven #TeamTaylorMade pic.twitter.com/esfn7WY9Kh
There was nothing lucky about this performance. 🍀
— TaylorMade Golf (@TaylorMadeGolf) April 29, 2024
En route to capturing his 25th PGA Tour win, @McIlroyRory and his partner carded 30 birdies (including one to force a playoff on the 72nd hole) to go 25-under for the week in Louisiana and secure the win. #Qi10Driver pic.twitter.com/3WWi5wZj1b
As clutch as it gets. 🙌@McIlroyRory tucks it tight with this saucy chip to set up birdie on the 72nd hole and force a playoff. #TP5x
— TaylorMade Golf (@TaylorMadeGolf) April 28, 2024
pic.twitter.com/napOf9Zz50
.@McIlroyRory’s putter is on fire! 🔥
— TaylorMade Golf (@TaylorMadeGolf) April 28, 2024
He rolls in another birdie on the par-4 16th to move him and his partner into a share of the lead. #SpiderTourX
pic.twitter.com/77KCHrUTO8
Twirl city, population: @McIlroyRory. 🤌
— TaylorMade Golf (@TaylorMadeGolf) April 28, 2024
pic.twitter.com/ZgI11WAg47
One back with seven to play! 🙌@McIlroyRory read it perfectly to drop this left to right birdie putt on the par-5 11th. #SpiderTourX
— TaylorMade Golf (@TaylorMadeGolf) April 28, 2024
pic.twitter.com/0WACum2vkY
Stock yardages for the one and only, @McIlroyRory. 🔥 #Qi10Driver pic.twitter.com/6CuMSqxER8
— TaylorMade Golf (@TaylorMadeGolf) March 15, 2024
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