Rory McIlroy’s experiment with new golf clubs at the Arnold Palmer Invitational ended in disaster, with the four-time major champion failing to break 70 in any of the four rounds. McIlroy, who had been in top form just weeks earlier, saw his stats plummet as he struggled to adjust to the new equipment. But what led to this drastic change, and what did the golf world make of it?
“Rory McIlroy tied for 15th at the API, a little bit of a strange thing here.” It is strange, indeed. Hosts on the latest episode of the Golf Channel’s YouTube page also discussed McIlroy’s shocking decision to switch to new clubs mid-season. “It’s mind-blowing that you would do this at the start of the Florida swing and not in December or January when a lot of guys are doing club testing,” one host noted. Another host chimed in, “He was trying to be a good soldier on this front and put the new stuff into play, and simply wasn’t happy with it” – a sentiment that likely echoed McIlroy’s own frustrations or as another host noted, “Rory’s mood was not good… it was angry, to be quite clear.”
And well, it seems like McIlroy has learned from his mistakes as the golfer has vowed to revert back to his trusty old equipment in pursuit of a coveted Masters title. The four-time Major winner had experimented with new TaylorMade gear, including a Qi35 driver and fairway woods, but ultimately decided to switch back to his familiar Qi10 setup. McIlroy’s decision came after a frustrating week at Bay Hill, where he struggled to find his rhythm with the new clubs. “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,” he explained.
NEWCASTLE, NORTHERN IRELAND – SEPTEMBER 14: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays his second shot on the first hole during day three of the Amgen Irish Open 2024 at Royal County Down Golf Club on September 14, 2024 in Newcastle, Northern Ireland. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)
As McIlroy sets his sights on the Masters, he’s focusing on fine-tuning his game and getting familiar with the changes at Augusta National. “I’ll see how next week (The Players Championship) goes and then just sort of see what I feel like and what I think I need,” he said. Even after losing the tournament, McIlroy still had an impact on other golfers’ performances.
Shane Lowry had a ‘good time’ with Rory McIlroy
Rory McIlroy may not have had the best outing at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, but his presence still made a significant difference for fellow golfer Shane Lowry. The two were paired together for the first two rounds, and Lowry admitted that playing with McIlroy brought out the best in him. “I’m kind of a talker on the course anyway… I felt like we had a good time doing our job at the same time,” Lowry said, highlighting the camaraderie they shared on the course. This lighthearted approach seemed to work wonders for Lowry, who went on to deliver impressive performances in the first two rounds.
He scored 3-under 69 in the first round, followed by a 5-under 67 in the second round, with six birdies against just one bogey. Lowry also acknowledged that McIlroy’s strong record at Bay Hill motivated him to raise his own game, saying, “Look, you’re out there with one of the best golfers in the world, with big crowds, great golf course, lovely weather, what’s not to like? It’s easy to get up for something like that. I feel like I thrive in those situations.” As the tournament progressed, Lowry continued to impress, eventually finishing tied for T7 place at -6, as seen in the final leaderboard. What are your thoughts on the Arnold Palmer Invitationals’ last round? Let us know in the comment section below!
The post ‘Angry’ Rory McIlroy Fell Victim to a ‘Strange’ Experiment That Shattered His Bay Hill Hopes appeared first on EssentiallySports.
