Inside Rory McIlroy's new look golf bag shakeup at the Arnold Palmer Invitational
03/07/2025 11:00 AM
Rory McIlroy followed his early-season ball switch with a much-changed golf bag at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Florida.
The four-time Major champion opted to swap his TaylorMade TP5x golf ball for the line’s other offering – the TP5.
His decision paid dividends with an impressive victory at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, in an outstanding start to the 2025 season.
“I sort of stumbled upon it,” stated the Northern Irishman who decided to opt for the softer feeling TP5 after trialling it with a few chips, a decision that proved invaluable.
The World No.2 is known for an inquisitive approach to his equipment and knack for finding a competitive edge with his bag setup.
An introduction of a ball that spins more has led to club changes that he hopes will lead to success and perhaps end his lengthy win for a fifth Major.
In with the new…
A new-look bag at the prestigious Bay Hill Golf Course featured the 2025 TaylorMade Qi35 line for the first time.
A Qi35 driver, 3-wood and an 18-degree option that the 35-year-old describes as a 4-wood all feature in his bag this week, with McIlroy having found the perfect trio to match his desired distances off the tee box.
“I messed around with the mini driver last year but couldn’t quite get comfortable with it”, explained McIlroy on his bid to find a club that would fly 300 yards.
“I’ve been playing around with stronger 3-woods and this wood that I have (Qi35) carries 300 to 305 yards in the air which is a really good club for me to have.”
The introduction of the 4-wood and a TaylorMade "Proto" P770 3-iron were part of his efforts to then bridge the gap created by the introduction of his new, longer 3-wood and the exit of his 5-wood.
Summarising his new options off the tee he added, “I’ve now got a club that flies 260, a club that flies 280 and a club that flies 300 before the driver.”
A booming 269-yard 3-iron approach where he reached the par five dance floor in two highlighted the benefits of McIlroy’s aggressive change of equipment.
The latest lineup also includes a new TaylorMade MG4 pitching wedge in a stunning golf bag renovation where he now has a solo 48-degree MG4 in his arsenal – conceding 1.5° of loft off his previous option.
He’s now playing 48°, 54° and 60° wedges at the Bay Hill event.
“I feel with the new ball (TP5) I’m a lot more comfortable playing half and 3/4 shots and so have been comfortable going back to three wedges.”
Out with the old…
Despite the Qi35 series having been on the Tour and market for a few months, McIlroy has only now made the switch from his dependable TaylorMade Qi10 driver, 3-wood and 5-wood.
Having played and won the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am with four MG4 wedges just over a month ago, he has since canned his 46 and 50-degree options, bridging the gap with a 48-degree switch and allowing space in the bag for a 3-iron.
What results could the changes bring?
McIlroy’s compromise will afford him greater versatility at the tee box as he looks to continue his form as the second-biggest hitter on Tour.
The changes will inevitably allow him to be more aggressive while having a more forgiving selection of big clubs, a luxury that has been afforded by the positive effects of his new golf ball on confidence in his wedge play.
With The Masters at Augusta now only a month away, McIlroy will be looking to bed everything in as he seeks to win his first Green Jacket.
READ MORE: Why the 2025 TaylorMade Tour Response ball is the perfect choice for the average golfer
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