Rory McIlroy makes immediate change after Masters disappointment on PGA Tour return

Rory McIlroy has made an equipment change as he looks to chase down his first PGA Tour victory of the 2024 season at this week’s RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links.

McIlroy endured another tough week at the Masters, after his quest to finally win a green jacket and complete the Grand Slam once again failed. He has returned to action just days after his outing at Augusta National, in the hopes of instantly bouncing back at Hilton Head.

And in a bid to do just that, he has added a new-look club to his bag by introducing TaylorMade’s new BRNR Mini Driver Copper 13.5-degree in place of his Qi10 3-wood.

The Northern Irishman had originally began trialling the mini driver at the Valero Texas Open earlier this month, but opted to sick with his 3-wood for the trip to Augusta. This time around though McIlroy has opted to make the change, adding the club to the bag in his quest to win PGA Tour event No. 25.

And in Thursday’s opening round his club change helped McIlroy make a strong start to the week, after the four-time major winner kicked off his tournament with a four-under-par 68. His opening round got off to the perfect start, as the Northern Irishman made a birdie-three at the first.

Three pars followed, before things got even better for the European star at the par-five fifth. After finding the green-side bunker in two, McIlroy showed his skillset from the sand by chipping in for eagle to move to three-under-par. His first blemish of the day came at the par-four 12th, as he made a frustrating bogey five.

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Rory McIlroy enjoyed a solid start to the week

He soon bounced back though, and a strong finish with birdies at 17 and 18 saw him move into a tie for 10th, four shots behind early leader J.T. Poston. Happy with his hot finish, McIlroy said post-round: “It was great to birdie those last two holes. I made two good swings at the last to put it in there close, and nice to finish with a 3.

“Yeah, started pretty good, then managed my game quite well during the middle when I didn’t have it, and a nice way to finish. Feel like I’ve got a good chance now to get myself right in the tournament tomorrow morning. I could have definitely made a couple more bogeys around the turn there, and I didn’t.

“Made some good up-and-downs. Yeah, pretty pleased with the day.” When it came to the mini-driver, the 33-year-old pulled out of the bag just three times during his round due to the conditions, but expects to get more use out of it in the coming days. “I actually think I only hit it three times,” he added.

“The way the wind was today out of the south means I didn’t hit it — some of the holes I hit it in practice, I was hitting 5-wood off the tee and then there was a couple of holes where I hit mini in the practice round, then hit driver because the wind was into. But it’s a great club. It’s versatile. I’m sure I’ll use it quite a bit over these next few days.”