Rory McIlroy Found With Noncompliant Driver

With the PGA Championship in full swing, some strange things are happening with the players, as well as the game.  The event went off with a flying start as mud balls flew across the field and into the water.  There have been some withdrawals due to injuries.  Also, Rory McIlroy almost went into the event with a noncompliant driver head.  The reigning champion of the Masters tournament, who is looking to bring home the win for the PGA Championship, had an illegal driver in his bag.  However, this mishap doesn’t look to be his fault at all.

The Driver Test

Ahead of every event, the USGA and the R&A come in to test clubs at random.  The randomness of the testing is, of course, to keep players on their toes.  The test in question is a Characteristic Time test.  This test is where a club is placed into a machine, and a pendulum and sensor are used to measure how springy the face of the club is.  They do this at the behest of the PGA.  It is also a test that happens ahead of every event.  It is just routine practice, and the PGA is more than willing to keep it happening.  It’s not clear how many clubs were tested, just who didn’t pass.  This time, Rory McIlroy’s clubs were tested and were put in the crosshairs.  This is confirmed by Jason Sobel, a reporter for PGA Tour Radio.

McIlroy’s Club

Going into the event, McIlroy normally plays with a TaylorMade Qi10 driver.  This was the club that the test deemed noncompliant and had to be changed.  This is not an indictment on McIlroy, a club can be noncompliant for any number of reasons.  The club in question was certainly not modified; if it was, McIlroy would have been in deep trouble.  The most likely reason for the non-compliance is simple wear and tear.  All the use that club has seen just left it worn down enough to cross that line and not be fit for play.  Better replace it now than when it falls apart while teeing off.  The actual reason was not given, and McIlroy hasn’t commented on the situation and probably doesn’t see a reason to, given how routine it is.

McIlroy After Getting A Replacement

McIlroy seems to be struggling a bit with this new club.  Granted, the field is not in the best condition, so there is more than one factor working against him.  He’s just not used to this new club, and is more accustomed to the old one, warts and all.  He managed to hit a ball into the water along with two other players.  One ball bounced off the roof of a grandstand, probably giving the spectators a good jolt before landing on the riverbank.  Barely made it.

What Now For Rory McIlroy?

McIlroy hasn’t commented on his performance after the first two rounds and instead has taken to the practice range.  He will get back into the swing of things in due time.  It would be a good idea for him to have identical clubs on hand in case this happens again.  It would also be interesting to see how many non-compliant clubs are out on the field at any given time.