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Rory McIlroy WITB (14th March, 2025) - What's In The Bag? The Player's Championship @ TPC Sawgrass

Rory McIlroy’s relationship with new equipment is like a high-profile celebrity romance—highly publicized, full of promise, but sometimes over before it really even gets going.

March 14, 2025

Swapped the Qi35 driver back to the Qi10 – The Bay Hill Experiment That Didn't Work

Rory McIlroy’s relationship with new equipment is like a high-profile celebrity romance—highly publicized, full of promise, but sometimes over before it really even gets going. His brief fling with the TaylorMade Qi35 driver at Bay Hill is a perfect example.

Heading into the Arnold Palmer Invitational, McIlroy decided to test out TaylorMade’s latest and greatest—an update to their Qi series, engineered for more forgiveness, enhanced aerodynamics, and increased ball speed. On paper, it was everything a big-hitting major champion could want. He even raved about it during practice rounds, particularly praising the 3-wood, which he claimed was carrying over 300 yards (yes, carrying).

But then reality set in.

Through the first three rounds at Bay Hill, Rory wasn’t his usual self off the tee. Typically, he ranks near the top of Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee every season, effortlessly blasting 330-yard drives down the fairway. But with the Qi35 in play, things weren’t clicking. His dispersion was wider, his distance control wasn’t as tight, and for the first time in a long time, he actually lost strokes off the tee in one of his rounds.

That was the final straw. By Sunday, McIlroy showed up on the range with his trusty Qi10 driver, the same club that had been a staple in his bag for over a year. When asked about the switch, he didn’t hold back:

“Sort of going back to what I’m comfortable with. I tried new woods for the first three days, didn’t quite work out the way I wanted it to. So, yeah, I went back to my old stuff today. I led strokes gained off the tee in both Pebble and Torrey, so it was a really good idea to change [laughs].”

Translation: The experiment was over, and it was time to get back to what actually works.

While the Qi35 driver might be a perfect fit for some players, Rory’s experience shows just how dialed-in professionals need to be. It’s not just about newer—it’s about better. And for now, McIlroy knows that his Qi10 driver is still the best weapon for his game.

Heading into The Players, he’s sticking with what he trusts. Could we see him give the Qi35 another go down the road? Maybe. But for now, when it comes to McIlroy’s driver, it’s if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Who is Rory McIlroy and WITB for The Players 2025?

Let’s be real—if you don’t know who Rory McIlroy is, you’ve either been living under a rock or only just decided to care about golf. The Northern Irishman has been one of the most dominant players of his generation, racking up four major championships, countless wins on both the PGA and DP World Tour, and a trophy cabinet bigger than your garage.

McIlroy burst onto the scene in the late 2000s as a curly-haired prodigy, all raw power and youthful exuberance. By 2011, he was already breaking records, winning the U.S. Open by eight shots (yes, eight). A couple of PGA Championships (2012, 2014) and an Open Championship (2014) later, and he’d solidified himself as one of the best to ever do it.

Despite a major drought since 2014, Rory remains a threat every time he tees it up. He’s won pretty much everything except a green jacket, and every April, people ask, “Is this the year Rory finally wins the Masters?” Spoiler alert: it hasn’t been yet.

Off the course, Rory is as much a spokesman for golf as he is a player, never afraid to share his opinion—especially when it comes to LIV Golf. Whether it’s making headlines with his takes on the state of the game or sending towering drives that make amateurs weep, McIlroy is always at the center of the action.

McIlroy at The Players Championship 2025

McIlroy’s history at The Players Championship is, in a word, eventful. He won in 2019, proving he could tame TPC Sawgrass, but has also had years where the course chewed him up and spat him out. It’s a place where even the best can look foolish (hello, 17th island green).

This year, though, he’s looking sharp. After two rounds, he’s tied for second at 6-under, very much in contention. His driving—usually his biggest weapon—has been dialed in, and his putter hasn’t betrayed him too badly (yet). After some frustrating experiments with new clubs at Bay Hill last week, he’s back in familiar territory with his trusty TaylorMade Qi10 driver.

So, will he pull it off this weekend? Stay tuned. But if there’s one thing we know about McIlroy, it’s that he’s always good for some drama.

Rory McIlroy’s 2025 WITB: The Setup That Keeps Him in Contention

McIlroy has never been one to make drastic, sweeping equipment changes, but he’s not afraid to tweak things in search of the perfect setup. After experimenting with the new TaylorMade Qi35 woods at Bay Hill and ultimately ditching them mid-tournament, he’s back with his Qi10 driver—the club that’s carried him through some of his best performances.

Here’s what he’s gaming in 2025:

Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 8° with a Fujikura Ventus Black 7X shaft

McIlroy’s driver has always been one of the best in the game. He tried switching to the new Qi35 at Bay Hill but quickly went back to the Qi10, proving that sometimes newer isn’t always better.

3 Wood: TaylorMade Qi10 15° with a Fujikura Ventus Black 8X shaft

Rory doesn’t just smash drivers—his fairway woods are also nuclear. He keeps the Qi10 3-wood in the bag because it gives him perfect blend of power and control.

7 Wood: TaylorMade Qi35 21° with a Fujikura Ventus Black 8X shaft

This is an interesting addition. Rory used to lean on a long iron here, but the 7-wood offers better launch and forgiveness.

Utility: Srixon ZU85 (4) with a Nippon N.S. Pro Modus 3 Hybrid Prototype 10X shaft

A trusty driving iron for those tight tee shots where a driver is too much.

Irons: TaylorMade P7TW (5-PW) with True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 shafts

The Tiger-inspired P7TW blades are still in play, because let’s be honest—why would you switch from irons that literally have your initials stamped on them?

Wedges:

  • Titleist Vokey Design SM8 50° (12F)

  • Titleist Vokey Design SM9 Proto 56° (14F)

  • Titleist Vokey Design WedgeWorks 60° (T)

  • All with True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 shafts
    Rory’s wedge game isn’t always his strongest suit, but when they’re dialed in, he can get scary. The Vokeys stay consistent in his setup.

Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour X with a Golf Pride Pro Only grip

This is where the magic happens… or doesn’t. Rory’s putting has always been streaky. If this thing gets hot, he’s winning tournaments. If not, well, we’ve seen that story before.

Ball: Titleist Pro V1

He’s stuck with the Pro V1 for years. When you bomb it like McIlroy, you need a ball that offers control as well as distance.

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

Because even the best in the world need something to hold onto.

How His 2025 Setup Compares to 2024

Rory’s 2025 setup isn’t a total overhaul, but there are a few key changes:

  • Swapped the Qi35 driver back to the Qi10 – after a rough experiment at Bay Hill, Rory decided to return to what works.

  • Added a 7-wood – rather than relying on a long iron, he’s opted for more forgiveness.

  • Still rocking the P7TW irons – if they’re good enough for Tiger, they’re good enough for Rory.

  • Same wedges, different loft gapping – fine-tuning those approach shots.

It’s not a massive shift, but when you’re trying to peak for The Masters, every little tweak matters.

Can Rory Win The Players Again?

He’s in the hunt. Tied for second heading into the weekend, he’s looking sharp, and his ball-striking is elite as usual. If he keeps his putter from going ice-cold, he could be hoisting the trophy for the second time.

One thing’s for sure—Rory McIlroy never makes things boring. Whether he wins or not, we’re in for a show.

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