When Rory McIlroy is firing on all cylinders, there’s no one in world golf who can match him off the tee. That’s not hyperbole—it’s a statistical fact. But as the 2025 U.S. Open looms at brutally unforgiving Oakmont, McIlroy finds himself searching for answers in the one area of the game that’s long been his greatest strength.
At the RBC Canadian Open, McIlroy’s driver, normally a scalpel of destruction, turned into a liability. A second-round 78 saw him slump to a shocking +9 total, missing the cut by a mile and finishing T149 – his worst result on the PGA Tour to date. More worrying than the scoreline was the cause: ongoing discomfort with his current driver setup.
Distance is Still King
Statistically, McIlroy remains one of the longest players in the game. He’s currently ranked 2nd in Driving Distance on the PGA Tour, averaging 317.6 yards, just behind Bryson DeChambeau and ahead of the likes of Cameron Champ and Scottie Scheffler. It’s a key part of what sets him apart: when Rory drives it well, he turns par 5s into 4s and par 4s into wedge opportunities.
But distance alone isn’t enough at Oakmont, where narrow fairways and penal rough demand precision too.
Qi35: The Wrong Fit?
McIlroy has been struggling to bed in TaylorMade’s latest Qi35 driver—an update touted for its improved forgiveness and stability across the face. While others have made the switch with early success, McIlroy’s experience has been less than seamless.
“I went back to a 44-inch driver this week to try to get something that was a little more in control,” McIlroy admitted after his Canadian collapse. “But if I’m going to miss fairways, I’d rather have the ball speed and miss the fairway than not.”
The issue? The Qi35 hasn’t delivered the launch window or control he’s used to. After being forced to ditch his favoured gamer — deemed non-conforming during a random test before the PGA Championship — McIlroy has been adrift with the new head.
He’s now strongly hinting at reverting to an older model, possibly a custom-built version of the Stealth Plus+, a head he’s used with deadly effect in recent seasons.
Pressure Mounting Ahead of Oakmont
“I’m going to have to do a lot of practice and a lot of work over the weekend at home,” McIlroy said. “Still searching for the missing piece off the tee… and when I get that part clicking, everything falls into place.”
That’s the crux: Rory’s entire game flows from the driver. It sets up his aggressive iron play and allows him to take on pins most players fear. Without it, he’s a different player—and not one likely to survive the gauntlet of Oakmont.
With four days to test, tweak and trial, McIlroy knows the clock is ticking. Oakmont doesn’t care who you are. And if he turns up with the wrong driver in the bag, no amount of short-game genius or iron precision will save him.
