Tour News
McIlroy reaches breaking point at Merion
In what seemed to be a summation of his season so far, Rory McIlroy took his frustration out one of his Nike irons after he dunked two shots into Cobb’s Creek on Merion’s No. 11, leading to a quadruple bogey en route to a final-round 76. Using the weight of his body, he jammed the club into the turf, causing the shaft to bend noticeably.
Complying with the rules of the USGA, the club was deemed “unfit” for play, and McIlroy was forced to continue his round with only 13 of the 14 clubs he started with.
He usually displays a calm demeanor on the course, but I suppose everyone has their breaking points. Unfortunately for Nike CEO Phil Knight and McIlroy’s fans and followers, we found out today the breaking point of his new irons.
Following his exorbitant Nike endorsement deal in the offseason, Rory has been anything but stellar in 2013. A second-place finish at the Valero Texas Open and a T8 at The Players Championship have been the high points of his season. He’s been out of contention for the first two major championships, and most of his PGA Tour stops throughout the year.
Early in March, McIlroy withdrew from the Honda Classic citing a toothache, but he admitted afterward that it had more to do with his on course struggles and mental state than incoming Wisdom teeth.
A multi-million dollar endorsement deal may not be able to buy maturity, but at least he can afford to buy a new iron.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 PGA Championship
GolfWRX is on site this week at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, for the PGA Championship.
While we see fewer equipment changes and new gear seeding at major championships, we get a look at custom gear and looks into the bags of players we rarely see, which is just as exciting. In the case of the PGA Championship, this means a look at the gear some of the PGA Professionals who qualified for the tournament will be gaming, and LIV players, such as Jon Rahm and Patrick Reed.
Check out links to all our albums from Valhalla below and check back throughout the week as we continue to update.
General Albums
WITB Albums
- Michael Block – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Patrick Reed – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Cam Smith – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Brooks Koepka – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Josh Speight – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Takumi Kanaya – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Kyle Mendoza – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Adrian Meronk – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jordan Smith – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jeremy Wells – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jared Jones – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- John Somers – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Larkin Gross – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Tracy Phillips – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jon Rahm – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Keita Nakajima – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Kazuma Kobori – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- David Puig – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Ryan Van Velzen – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Brad Marek – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Chris Gotterup – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Rich Beem WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Phil Mickelson – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Matt Dobyns – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Lucas Herbert – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jason Dufner – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- John Daly – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Taylor Gooch – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Dean Burmester – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Joaquin Niemann – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Dustin Johnson – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
Pullout Albums
- Ping putter covers – 2024 PGA Championship
- Bettinardi covers – 2024 PGA Championship
- Cameron putter covers – 2024 PGA Championship
- Max Homa – Titleist 2 wood – 2024 PGA Championship
- Scotty Cameron experimental putter shaft by UST – 2024 PGA Championship
- Joaquin Niemann – new Ping putter – 2024 PGA Championship
- Brooks Koepka’s new Cameron putter – 2024 PGA Championship
- Rickie Fowler’s Cobra bag and Aerojet driver – 2024 PGA Championship
- Super Stroke grip – 2024 PGA Championship
- Tiger Woods – 2024 PGA Championship
- Michael Block’s new TaylorMade “Proto” 7-iron, from address – 2024 PGA Championship
- Odyssey putter covers – 2024 PGA Championship
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News
Photos from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
GolfWRX is live this week at the Wells Fargo Championship as a field of the world’s best golfers descend upon Charlotte, North Carolina, hoping to tame the beast that is Quail Hollow Club in this Signature Event — only Scottie Scheffler, who is home awaiting the birth of his first child, is absent.
From the grounds at Quail Hollow, we have our usual assortment of general galleries and WITBs — including a look at left-hander Akshay Bhatia’s setup. Among the pullout albums, we have a look inside Cobra’s impressive new tour truck for you to check out. Also featured is a special look at Quail Hollow king, Rory McIlroy.
Be sure to check back throughout the week as we add more galleries.
General Albums
- 2024 Wells Fargo Championship – Monday #1
- 2024 Wells Fargo Championship – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Wells Fargo Championship – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Akshay Bhatia – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Matthieu Pavon – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Keegan Bradley – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Webb Simpson – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Emiliano Grillo – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Taylor Pendrith – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Kevin Tway – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
Pullout Albums
- New Cobra equipment truck – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Rory McIlroy – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- New Cobra equipment truck – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Eric Cole’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Custom Cameron putter – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Matt Kuchar’s custom Bettinardi – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Justin Thomas – driver change – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Rickie Fowler – putter change – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Rickie Fowler’s new custom Odyssey Jailbird 380 putter – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Tommy Fleetwood testing a TaylorMade Spider Tour X (with custom neck) – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Cobra Darkspeed Volition driver – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
See what GolfWRXers are saying about our Wells Fargo Championship photos in the forums.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
GolfWRX is on site this week in McKinney, Texas, at the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson (FKA the AT&T Byron Nelson).
Last year at TPC Craig Ranch, Jason Day ended a five-year winless streak. J-Day is in the field again, as are Jordan Spieth, Tom Kim, and Will Zalatoris.
We have our usual assortment of general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums for your perusal. As always, we’ll continue to add links to additional albums as they make their way to us from the Lone Star State.
Check out links to all our photos below.
General Albums
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Monday #1
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Monday #2
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #1
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #2
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #3
WITB Albums
- Pierceson Coody – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Kris Kim – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- David Nyfjall – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Adrien Dumont de Chassart – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Jarred Jetter – North Texas PGA Section Champ – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Richy Werenski – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Wesley Bryan – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Parker Coody – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Peter Kuest – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Blaine Hale, Jr. – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Kelly Kraft – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Rico Hoey – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Pullout Albums
- Adam Scott’s 2 new custom L.A.B. Golf putters – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Scotty Cameron putters – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Ben Griffin playing Maxfli golf ball
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
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Will
Jul 11, 2013 at 5:17 pm
true as phil said tiger beat everyone when nike clubs were terrible
lloyd duffield
Jul 1, 2013 at 3:51 pm
I READ ON SOME GOLF WEB SITE THAT RORY WAS JUST ABOUT TO SIGN A DEAL WITH TAYLORMADE WHEN NIKE JUMPED IN AND OFFERD HIM MORE DOSH. IM NOT 100% SURE IF THIS IS TRUE OR NOT BUT SAYING THAT A PRO LIKE RORY SHOULD BE ABLE TO USE A CHEEP SET AND STILL DO WELL . ALL IN THE HEAD PROBLEY ???
Feisty
Jun 18, 2013 at 1:40 pm
Can’t blame the kid too much. It’s been a rough year so far. Heck, I would have made sure the club was in two pieces. There’s always a Tommy Bolt on the Tour. They’re not a bunch of robots. They’re human, competing for big purses. Sometimes you just gotta blow off some steam.
Scott
Jun 18, 2013 at 12:50 pm
Without a doubt he should drop Nike and go back to Titleist. Other than Tiger, who is an enigma anyway, no one serious plays with Nike clubs.
Tony
Jun 18, 2013 at 3:47 pm
“no one serious plays with Nike clubs”? Really? Ahhhh, Charles Schwartzel (won the Masters), Kyle Stanley (PGA Tour winner), Nick Watney (PGA Tour winner), Russel Henley (PGA Tour winner), Kevin Chappell, Paul Casey, Francesco Molinari?
IgnoranceIsBliss
Jun 20, 2013 at 5:57 am
Honestly, everyone who was unfortunate enough to have read your comment is now dumber for having done so. Are you really so ignorant that you have managed to convince yourself that changing equipment manufacturers is the sole purpose for Rory’s poor performance? It’s not as if Nike would have handed Rory off-the-rack equipment and suggested he simply work it out. Rather, the specifications (lie angle, loft, length, swing weight, shaft, grip, etc.) of his previous Titleist equipment would have been precisely documented and recreated on his Nike equipment. I’m unsure why I have taken the time to point out the error of your ways, as chances are you’re just another chopper who is attempting to justify (and increase the perceived value of) your purchases by speaking poorly of equipment you probably haven’t even used.
Don
Jun 17, 2013 at 9:29 pm
Give him a break. I think most people who play have been so angry we slammed a club, threw your ball in the water, or maybe even broke a club. We weren’t 24 and playing in a major where the winner was over par for the tournament. He’ll be fine, he’s just in a bad spell right now.
J.doe
Jun 17, 2013 at 7:47 pm
Warning: Nike clubs can seriously ruin your game
Jack
Jun 17, 2013 at 2:30 pm
I don’t agree with all of this “he’s young give him a break” stuff. Yes he is young (but a still an adult), and yes he had a rough tournament, but he is very lucky to be able to play golf for a living and become obscenely rich doing it. While he may be frustrated, he is one hundred percent in control of his actions; and with millions of kids watching him, he is setting a very bad example for them on how to deal with pressure and frustration. For the guy that said we can’t understand the pressure he is under, there are people on this board who have real responsibilities and stress like policemen, doctors, teachers, etc. Rory is an entertainer, not a bridge builder — let’s not loose perspective here!
Ken
Jun 17, 2013 at 2:58 pm
Do you really think the drive to succeed and the work ethic to spend 8 hours a day on the range goes side by side with someone that could care less whether he wins or loses? I completely disagree – that winning desire is the predecessor for the work ethic and being pissed off that you are playing poorly is completely understandable. He had a bad day, he was frustrated, it happens rarely with him, I say give him a break…
Jack
Jun 18, 2013 at 12:32 am
He can be as pissed as he wants, but he comes off like a spoiled child when he purposely breaks clubs. I’ll gladly spend 8 hours a day on the range rather than my day job — so would most anyone on this forum.
EdMan
Jun 18, 2013 at 9:34 am
That’s an easy statement to make when you don’t play golf for a living. How many of us who play golf for enjoyment wouldn’t love to play golf instead of work. Have you never experienced frustration in your day job? Playing golf for a living is a completely different experience. It’s very easy to sit on the sideline and judge others.
Trevor
Jun 17, 2013 at 8:48 pm
That’s an ignorant thing to say. You build your own path in life and make your own choices. Whatever profession you choose you should be prepared and aware of the possible pressures of it. Same applies to Rory and any other professional but like ANY profession, you learn as you go and you learn to deal with the pressures in time, he’s young still and he’ll learn to deal with.
Trevor
Jun 17, 2013 at 10:35 am
He’s young, he’ll learn to deal with the pressure in time. I do however think Nike moved too fast to get the young star, he had a good year but he has a lot of learning left to do.
neil
Jun 17, 2013 at 10:33 am
Rory is one of the nicest guys out there.His background is very working class,his father worked 3 jobs to enable Rory to play golf.Not spoiled at all.
James
Jun 17, 2013 at 10:19 am
Nothing new.. This is the same guy who just walked off the course out of frustration.
reqq
Jun 17, 2013 at 8:03 am
Well thats it, im will replace my Project X shafts with Dynamic Gold since they clearly cant handle the pressure.
keith
Jun 17, 2013 at 4:46 am
I dont think he is spoiled at all, he has worked very hard to get to where he is now. I think he is having trouble getting used to his new clubs and that had led him to his frustration, this isnt the first time a pro has broken a club in anger. Lay off this guy, he has more pressure on him than any of us could ever imagine, so bending a club isnt that big of a deal….
B MAC
Jun 17, 2013 at 6:48 am
Right on Keith !!! The way tiger and sergio have carried on in last month ! And your having a crack at rory ! He will be fine just in a slump at the moment remember last year he went through a slump in middle of year and finished year with 4 wins including a major !!
Jack
Jun 17, 2013 at 2:14 am
Spoiled brat and a really bad example of how to act on the course!
Dave
Jun 17, 2013 at 2:35 pm
Come on man… you’ve never done something like that?! Give me (and him) a break unless you’re perfect.
Ken
Jun 17, 2013 at 2:54 pm
Over the course of his career he has appeared to be nothing but courteous and respectful. The one tournament he did make a bad decision and left, he profusely apologized for. He has one frustrating day where he bends a club and all the sudden he is a spoiled brat? I don’t think your math adds up…
Jack
Jun 17, 2013 at 12:30 am
he had one good year, and Nike gambled way too hard on this young one. Still lots of years to go though. I think he is just enjoying his success a little too much and it’s getting to his head.
Dave
Jun 17, 2013 at 2:33 pm
One good year? kidding right?
He was low-am at the 2007 British Open, He finished second at the 2011 Masters, won the 2011 US Open by a record number of strokes, won the 2012 PGA Championship also my a ton of strokes.
Not even mentioning all the other tour wins he has or that he won the money list and tour championship on the Euro Tour last year (which has improved significantly in prestigue)
He has one of the most fundamentally sound swings you’ll see on tour. Remember when everyone was saying he was a one yr wonder last year after the Player’s when he’d missed like 4 of his last 6 cuts? Yeah… that sounded pretty dumb a few months later.
He’ll be fine, he’s going thru a slump.
Im nobody:(
Jun 16, 2013 at 11:42 pm
What a loser, so immature nike should fire him. But hes finished anyway it will be a looooong time before he wins again and thank God we didnt have to watch every shot tiger hit…… So refreshing!
Dave
Jun 17, 2013 at 2:39 pm
Another perfect human being throwing stones whilst living in a glass house. Give the guy a break! Don’t see anyone going crazy over Jason Duffner throwing his wedge into the water hazard!
anonymous
Jun 17, 2013 at 3:48 pm
You are blaming a 22, 23 year old kid for being immature? How mature were you at 22, 23? If your like most people you weren’t very mature at 22,23.
Golfzalo
Jun 16, 2013 at 8:27 pm
Bad (greedy) move. He should have stuck with Titleist and continue winning!
Ian harris
Jun 16, 2013 at 10:21 pm
Stats show his ball striking numbers have improved ……. Maybe should stick with old putter though
paul
Jun 17, 2013 at 9:42 am
he was using his scotty all week