Ball Change Champion McIlroy Changes Clubs This Time Too

TP5 Ball Powers AT&T Pebble Beach Win
New Fairway Woods and Wedges for API
"I've Added Clubs for a Variety of Distances"

Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) changed his club following a change in ball.

Rory McIlroy is teeing off at the 15th hole of the Arnold Palmer Invitational Pro-Am. Orlando=AFP·Yonhap News

On the 5th (local time), during an official interview at the PGA Tour Arnold Palmer Invitational (API), he revealed that he switched his fairway wood and wedges from the previous models to new ones. Previously, he used a 46.5-degree pitching wedge along with four wedges at 50, 54, and 60 degrees. This time, he switched to a 48-degree pitching wedge, removed the 50-degree wedge, and kept the 54 and 60-degree wedges.

McIlroy said, "The TP5 ball, which I have been using since the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, generates more spin with shorter clubs, especially on 3/4 swings. By increasing the pitching wedge loft by 1.5 degrees and reducing the number of wedges to three, it feels more comfortable."

There was also a change in the fairway woods. He increased the loft of the 3-wood to 15 degrees to increase distance and added a 4-wood with an 18-degree loft instead of a 5-wood. He explained the reason for changing the 3-wood loft by saying, "I hit 3-wood shots between 285 and 290 yards, but other players hit between 300 and 310 yards."

Last month at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, McIlroy switched from the previously used TaylorMade TP5x ball to the TP5 ball. After trying it once at the practice range before the tournament and liking the feel better, he used it in the actual competition, which led to his victory. The Arnold Palmer Invitational will begin on the 6th at Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando, Florida, USA.