McIlroy Optimistic About New Driver despite A few Initial Issues Prior to US Open Trial
Raw and Real Chat: Rory McIlroy's Troubles With His New Driver
Rory McIlroy, that bloke who's been making headlines for the wrong reasons, is having a bit of a nightmare with his big hound of a driver, a predicament he needs to sort out pronto for the US Open.
McIlroy wasn't too chuffed when details of his non-standard driver leaked during the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow.
So,our lad McIlroy dusted off the TaylorMade Qi35 driver ahead of this week's RBC Canadian Open, returning to it after using the Qi10 driver for that epic failed USGA test.
The new Grand Slam champ has been giving the Qi35 driver a spin since the PGA Championship last month, and after his opening round of 71 at the Canadian Open, he admitted to a few kinks to work out.
"It's a bitch with the driver, I mean, with the one I've been playing with previously, when I missed with it, I was a wee bit left," McIlroy said after his first round.
"Now, with this one, it's a bit right. It's just trying to figure that out and manage it a bit. This ain't the best just a week before a massive test of driving at Oakmont, where finding the fairways will be a premium."
McIlroy did manage to hit nine out of 14 fairways in the first round in Canada, finishing 52nd in Strokes Gained: Off The Tee and 47th in driving distance.
Driving has been McIlroy's bread and butter throughout his career, and at Oakmont, it'll be essential to find as many fairways and slam that ball as far as possible given the tough setup.
But here's the kicker: McIlroy's been experimenting with different drivers and shaft lengths, including a shorter setup to improve control. However, this might not be the bee's knees, as he prefers to maintain ball speed, even if it means missing fairways. Finding the right balance between control and power will be a bugger at Oakmont.
And the pressure to perform well at the US Open, coupled with equipment uncertainty, could potentially affect McIlroy's mental approach to the tournament. Confidence in his equipment is paramount for maintaining focus and remaining calm under pressure.
So, McIlroy is trying to see the bright side, but he'll need to get those kinks in his major weapon sorted out if he's to survive the challenges that Oakmont will throw at him.
Sounds like a real pickle, eh? But whatever happens, we'll be watching with bated breath!
P.S. Did you know?According to reports, McIlroy has been struggling with accuracy and lost significant strokes off the tee during the Canadian Open, finishing 52nd in Strokes Gained: Off The Tee and 47th in driving distance. He may need to work on his driver game to stand a chance at Oakmont, where precise ball striking is key. Additionally, McIlroy has been experimenting with different drivers and shaft lengths in an effort to improve control and consistency. However, he prefers to maintain ball speed, which could potentially lead to inaccurate shots. This balancing act between control and power will be crucial at Oakmont. (Based on Enrichment Data)
In light of Rory McIlroy's ongoing issues with his driver, he might face challenges at the US Open, particularly with Oakmont's focus on precise ball striking. His recent experimentation with various drivers and shaft lengths aims to strike a balance between control and power, but maintaining ball speed could potentially lead to inaccurate shots.
Regardless of the equipment uncertainty, McIlroy's success in the US Open hinges on resolving the kinks in his driver game, as driving accuracy and distance have historically been key to his performance.
