PGA of America responds to rumor that Rory McIlroy's driver was deemed non-conforming
Adam Schupak- Rory McIlroy switched drivers at the PGA Championship after his regular driver failed a USGA conformance test.
- The USGA confirmed conducting random driver testing at the PGA Championship at the PGA of America's request.
- Failing the conformance test, typically due to high coefficient of restitution, is not uncommon among players.
- McIlroy declined to comment on the driver change, adding to speculation about its connection to the test.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Is the reason that Rory McIlroy switched drivers this week because the driver he had been using was deemed non-conforming by the USGA during random club testing?
Sirius/XM Radio’s announcers mentioned that was the reason for the switch. McIlroy, known as the best driver of the ball in the game, hit just four fairways on Thursday en route to an opening-round, 3-over par 74. He ranks T-152 out of 155 in driving accuracy through 36 holes this week.
Heading into the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, a place he’s won four times, McIlroy ranked first in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee and third in driving distance.
The PGA of America responded on Saturday morning.
"We can confirm that the USGA was invited to do club testing at the PGA Championship, at the PGA of America’s request. That testing program is consistent with the same level of support that the USGA provides to the PGA Tour and other championships, as part of their regular programs for driver testing. The standard process is for about a third of the field to be randomly tested under the program," Kerry Haigh, Chief Championships Officer of the PGA of America, said in a release. "That was the case at Quail Hollow this week. Finding driver heads that have crept over the line of conformance is not an unusual occurrence, especially for clubs that are hit thousands of times over a long period of time. The results are kept confidential to protect players, who are unaware the club has fallen out of conformance and not responsible for it falling out of conformance other than hitting the club thousands of times. Players are simply asked to change heads if necessary, and all do without issue.
"To publicly identify players whose club did not conform can lead to that player being questioned unnecessarily. Neither the USGA nor the PGA of America have any concerns about player intent."
McIlroy's driver is believed to have been deemed non-conforming Tuesday. When reached for comment, the USGA confirmed testing was done this week at the PGA of America’s request.
“That program is consistent with the same level of support that we provide to the PGA Tour as part of their regular program for driver testing. Tests are conducted prior to the start of play,” said a USGA spokesperson. “The results are always confidential, as part of regular protocols.”
McIlroy declined to speak to the media and made a speedy exit after shooting 2-under 69 to make the cut on the number. His manager didn't provide any answers either.
It’s not uncommon for several players to fail a test, typically for the coefficient of restitution ‒ which quantifies the efficiency of a collision ‒ being too high. "Swinging at a ball speed of 180+ mph, it's going to happen," said Brendon de Jonge, a former Tour pro serving as an analyst for Sirius/XM Radio. "The face is going to get thinner."
While the results are confidential, it came to light at the 2019 British Open that Xander Schauffele had failed the test. McIlroy regularly carries a backup and as many as four driver heads to a tournament. He had switched back to the TaylorMade Qi10 driver that he had used last season after experimenting with the Qi35 for the first three rounds of the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March.
"He put a club that he wasn't prepared to play with this week," another PGA Tour Radio commentator said. "It's a huge curveball."