Tour News
It’s Official: Rory McIlroy is with TaylorMade
While Rory McIlroy didn’t specify exactly what he meant in his tweet at 11:02 a.m. Tuesday morning, “Final tweaks are made,” it was clear from the the presence of a custom TaylorMade Staff Bag in the photo that he had signed an endorsement contract with golf equipment manufacturer TaylorMade.
Minutes later, the official details from TaylorMade hit inboxes. Rory had signed a long-term contract with the company, and he would switch to a full bag of TaylorMade clubs, including a TaylorMade golf ball.
Time to show the world what you’re really made of.
Welcome to the family, Rory. #TeamTaylorMade pic.twitter.com/akofFlZI1X
— TaylorMade Golf (@TaylorMadeGolf) May 9, 2017
Earlier this year, it appeared that McIlroy was primed to signed an equipment contract with a different company. He was using Callaway’s new Epic metal woods and muscleback irons, as well as a custom Odyssey putter. There was also some Titleist equipment in his bag: the company’s new wedges and its Pro V1x golf ball. By Masters time, McIlroy had switched out his Callaway fairway woods for new TaylorMade models.
McIlroy’s equipment saga was the result of Nike’s decision to exit the golf equipment business in August, which left the four-time major champion an “equipment free agent.” He said he would take his time — maybe as much as a year — to find the absolutely best equipment for his game. Nine months later, the search has ended with TaylorMade.
“My future rests firmly in my hands,” McIlroy said. “That’s why I choose TaylorMade. I’ve been around the game long enough and have tested most clubs on the market, but I have never been as excited about equipment as I am right now.”
McIlroy’s TaylorMade Clubs
- 2017 M2 Driver (9.5 degrees)
- 2017 M2 Tour Fairway (13.5 degrees)
- 2017 M2 Tour Fairway (19 degrees)
- P750 Tour Proto Irons (3-4),- “Rors Proto” Irons (5-9)
- Milled Grind Wedges (48, 54, 60 degrees)
- TP5x Golf Ball / #22
Related: See all the TaylorMade clubs McIlroy is using this week at The Players
TaylorMade’s press release about the signing of McIlroy is filled with the typical hyperbole, and rightfully so for a company that currently has equipment deals with the top-3 ranked golfers in the world (Dustin Johnson, McIlroy and Jason Day), but there’s also some interesting tidbits.
For one, TaylorMade has designed a custom set of irons for McIroy called the “Rors Proto” that he will use as his 5-9 irons. And for those who think they can swing like McIlroy, TaylorMade passed along his launch monitor data with his new TaylorMade 2017 M2 driver.
- Ball Speed: 181 mph
- Launch Angle: 12.3 degrees
- Spin Rate: 2119 rpm
- Average Carry Distance: 315.8 yards
- Average Total Distance: 338.5 yards.
GolfWRX is live this week from the final event of the PGA Tour’s regular season, the Wyndham Championship.
Photos are flowing into the forums from Sedgefield Country Club, where we already have a GolfWRX spirit animal Adam Schenk WITB and plenty of putters for your viewing pleasure.
Check out links to all our photos below, which we’ll continue to update as more arrive.
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- 2025 Wyndham Championship – Tuesday #1
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WITB Albums
- Chandler Phillips – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
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- Adam Schenk – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Kurt Kitayama – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Camilo Villegas – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
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Pullout Albums
- Denny McCarthy’s custom Cameron putters – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Swag Golf putters – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Karl Vilips TM MG5 wedges – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- New Bettinardi putters – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Matt Fitzpatrick’s custom Bettinardi putters – 2025 Wyndham Championship
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See what GolfWRXers are saying and join the discussion in the forums.
GolfWRX is live from the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities!
Back from our overseas journey, we have plenty for you to digest from Minnesota, including WITBs and in-hand looks at some pretty impressive putters.
Check out links to all our photos below.
General Albums
- 2025 3M Open – Tuesday #1
- 2025 3M Open – Tuesday #2
- 2025 3M Open – Tuesday #3
- 2025 3M Open – Tuesday #4
WITB Albums
- Luke List – WITB – 2025 3M Open
- Isaiah Salinda – WITB – 2025 3M Open
- Akshay Bhatia – WITB – 2025 3M Open
- Kaito Onishi – WITB – 2025 3M Open
- Chris Gotterup – WITB – 2025 3M Open
- Rickie Fowler – WITB – 2025 3M Open
- Seamus Power – WITB – 2025 3M Open
- Chris Kirk – WITB – 2025 3M Open
- Vince Whaley – WITB – 2025 3M Open
- Andrew Putnam – WITB – 2025 3M Open
- David Lipsky – WITB – 2025 3M Open
- Thomas Campbell – Minnesota PGA Section Champ – WITB – 2025 3M Open
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Pullout Albums
- Rickie’s custom Joe Powell persimmon driver – 2025 3M Open
- Custom Cameron T-9.5 – 2025 3M Open
- Tom Kim’s custom prototype Cameron putter – 2025 3M Open
- New Cameron prototype putters – 2025 3M Open
- Zac Blair’s latest Scotty acquisition – 2025 3M Open
See what GolfWRXers are saying and join the discussion in the forums.
GolfWRX was live this week across the pond for The Open Championship! Check out links to all our galleries from Royal Portrush below.
General Albums
- 2025 The Open Championship – Sunday #1
- 2025 The Open Championship – Monday #1
- 2025 The Open Championship – Monday #2
- 2025 Open Championship – Monday #3
- 2025 The Open Championship – Tuesday #1
- 2025 The Open Championship – Tuesday #2
- 2025 The Open Championship – Wednesday #1
Pullout Albums
- Cobra’s 153rd Open Championship staff bag – 2025 The Open Championship
- Srixon’s Open Championship staff bag – 2025 The Open Championship
- Scotty Cameron 2025 Open Championship putter covers – 2025 The Open Championship
- TaylorMade’s 153rd Open Championship staff bag – 2025 The Open Championship
- Shane Lowry – testing a couple of Cameron putters – 2025 The Open Championship
- New Scotty Cameron Phantom Black putters(and new cover & grip) – 2025 The Open Championship
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Pingback: Rors Proto: TaylorMade releases Rory McIlroy’s Grand Slam-winning irons – GolfWRX
The Real Swanson
May 10, 2017 at 4:26 pm
Tosser.
King of Carlsbad
May 10, 2017 at 11:40 am
Can Rory still collect when TM goes bankrupt?
Teddy
May 9, 2017 at 9:02 pm
I guess the Epic driver wasn’t so “Epic” for Rory…
H
May 9, 2017 at 7:52 pm
Let the TM dominance-Titleist take down finally come to its conclusion!
Wenz
May 9, 2017 at 7:36 pm
Fairly sure his driver is 8.5 stamped with the actual loft being 8.25 as written in sharpie.
Tony Rich
May 9, 2017 at 6:53 pm
Sellout……while he is chasing the money everywhere he goes…guys like Willett, Stenson and a guy named Walker are winning majors. He dominated tournaments with his Titleist sticks. He has become a question mark since joining Nike and now this. Stats said he hit 20% of his fairways last year using Taylor Made low CG driver, doubt he will improve on that.
Moses
May 9, 2017 at 5:36 pm
I didn’t know Rory was a “6 time” major champion.
Judge Smells
May 9, 2017 at 4:50 pm
I heard Wilson was in there right until they discussed the compensation involved
Greg V
May 9, 2017 at 4:13 pm
Looks like he’s opening his left hand at the top of the swing, in the picture. Could be trouble, although Bobby Jones got away with it.
AndyUK
May 9, 2017 at 4:12 pm
Watched the live interview with him earlier today where he stated he was excited to play the TP5 ball as it was much more suited to his game and windy conditions compared to the Pro V. Said he spend 10 days of intensive testing. Kick in the teeth to Titleist, which is no bad thing.
Lewi
May 9, 2017 at 3:44 pm
Looks to me, he has sold out to the highest bidder, used callaway through choice and the brand has boomed, Taylormade had no choice but to buy him to try and reverse the trend.
Rory said he was staying club free for at least a year, amazing how money talks and changes people’s minds. Money obviously means more to him than titles
golfraven
May 9, 2017 at 3:38 pm
You would think that Tiger and Rory now come as a pack of two. You cannot sign them up seperately. This is a big hit to Callaway and somehow the Epic line is loosing the charm since more and more players not hitting those drivers anymore. Wonder how much Tiger invested in TM and maybe Rory is joining to bail him out or both will take over TM. I guess Tiger will need to suck it up if Rory gets his signature clubs (irons and maybe wedges in the future).
Tourgrinder
May 9, 2017 at 2:25 pm
Can somebody with more TaylorMade insight than me please let me in on the secret as to why more pros seem to be gravitating toward the M2 rather than the M1. Even those with an M1 driver seem to choose M2 fairway models and hybrids. But…the M2 driver seems to be preference for pros such as DJ, Rahm, Rose, Tiger Woods, and now McIlroy, plus many, many others. I’ve probably overlooked a boatload of other pros using the M2 rather than the M1. I thought the M1 was the flagship model and the M2 was the game-improvement model, if you could call it that.
SH
May 9, 2017 at 2:40 pm
We all want to find fairways and the M2 is a tad more forgiving for most. Besides, with all the hot melting, it’s not like these heads don’t have weight near the front
Ibo
May 9, 2017 at 1:06 pm
I’d be excited too while pocketing $10M a year on top of $20M more from Nike.
Aaron
May 9, 2017 at 6:49 pm
This is technically inaccurate. Nike will supplement whatever Taylormade pays Rory to equal the amount they would have paid him (had he continued using their clubs). He’s technically making the same amount of money, just from two companies instead of one.
Earl
May 16, 2017 at 12:31 am
Well THAT is technically incorrect. For every amount above what Nike are paying RM, they will take “a percentage” out of his pay. So he is earning more.. just not the full 10 mil more.
King of Carlsbad
May 9, 2017 at 12:58 pm
Hard to understand how TM has the budget for these signings. They are losing close to 9 digits a year and can’t find a buyer. Odd…
Aaron
May 9, 2017 at 4:06 pm
my thoughts exactly……….
Chris
May 9, 2017 at 12:48 pm
Taylormade’s player staff bill must be huge now, Rory, DJ, Jason Day, Sergio, Justin Rose…….
Ibo
May 9, 2017 at 1:09 pm
Don’t forget Tiger… xD
chinchbugs
May 9, 2017 at 12:44 pm
Can Nike just buy TaylorMade already….
Philip
May 9, 2017 at 12:37 pm
Sure he is playing the best equipment for his game, and it has nothing to do with him selling himself to the highest bidder … there is always more swampland for sale :o)
Tom1
May 9, 2017 at 12:25 pm
exciting times……
Eric
May 9, 2017 at 12:18 pm
He is using TMAG Proto Blades (saw a pic on instagram). Who knows who made them. Probably Miura. Just kidding, I have no idea.
Soggy golfer
May 9, 2017 at 12:13 pm
I don’t see him playing TM irons maybe with the exception of the tour preferred blades. I feel like he has always played a firmer feeling iron and the TM P series is extremely soft. I know some really good players that tried them after a firmer feeling set (myself included) and it was counter productive.
ND Hickman
May 9, 2017 at 12:18 pm
According to the video on his Facebook page his whole bag is TM now.
The Real Swanson
May 9, 2017 at 12:35 pm
He’d love my cast Sam Snead blades and a pinnacle. You have no clue what his preference is, unless you have video evidence of him saying as much.
Mike
May 9, 2017 at 12:37 pm
RDRS Proto according to Rors homepage. There is also a photo of it.
Craig
May 9, 2017 at 4:05 pm
Isn’t it Rors proto??
The Real Swanson
May 10, 2017 at 3:52 pm
You need some glasses.
Ibo
May 9, 2017 at 1:08 pm
https://www.instagram.com/p/BT4KZzMDTK4/?taken-by=rorymcilroy