Equipment
Rory switches to Nike Vapor irons at Dunhill Links Championship
A week after putting Nike’s new Vapor Pro driver in play at the Ryder Cup, Rory McIlroy looks to be going all in with the new Nike line he helped launch in New York City during the FedEx Cup playoffs.
That’s right, the world No. 1 was spotted with a bag full of Nike Vapor Pro irons during the first round of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
See our full breakdown of the Nike 2015 equipment line here.
It’s no surprise Rory decided to go with the Vapor Pro driver in competition, given statements like these:
“The first thing I noticed when I hit this driver was how hot it was. Then, I found that I could really control the flight and work it both ways on the golf course. I saw added ball speed on the monitor and am getting 10-15 yards more distance on the golf course this week.”
And perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised that McIlroy has gone so quickly to the Vapor Pro irons. After all, he won’t really have an off-season to speak of given his international schedule over the next few months, as he’s reported to have been practicing with clubs for months.
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Equipment
Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (4/18/24): Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, there is a listing for a Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made.
From the seller: (@DLong72): “Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made. ?: $1150. ?? 100% milled collectors item from the limited releases commemorating when Ping putters won every major in 1988 (88 putters made). This was the model Seve Ballesteros used to win the 1988 Open Championship. Condition is brand new, never gamed, everything is in the original packaging as it came. Putter features the iconic sound slot.
Specs/ Additional Details
-100% Milled, Aluminum/Bronze Alloy (310g)
-Original Anser Design
-PING PP58 Grip
-Putter is built to standard specs.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made
This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules
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As you probably know by now, Collin Morikawa switched putters after the first round of The Masters, and he ultimately went on to finish T3.
The putter was far from the only change he made last week, however, and his bag is continuing to change this week at the 2024 RBC Heritage.
On the range of The Masters, Morikawa worked closely with Adrian Reitveld, TaylorMade’s Senior Manager of Tour at TaylorMade, to find the perfect driver and 3-wood setups.
Morikawa started off 2024 by switching into TaylorMade’s Qi10 Max driver, but since went back to his faithful TaylorMade SIM – yes, the original SIM from 2020. Somehow, some way, it seems Morikawa always ends up back in that driver, which he used to win the 2020 PGA Championship, and the 2021 Open Championship.
At The Masters, however, Rietveld said the duo found the driver head that allowed “zero compromise” on Morikawa’s preferred fade flight and spin. To match his preferences, they landed on a TaylorMade Qi10 LS 9-degree head, and the lie angle is a touch flatter than his former SIM.
“It’s faster than his gamer, and I think what we found is it fits his desired shot shape, with zero compromise” Rietveld told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday at the RBC Heritage.
Then, to replace his former SIM rocket 3-wood, Morikawa decided to switch into the TaylorMade Qi10 core model 13.5-degree rocket head, with an adjustable hosel.
“He likes the spin characteristics of that head,” Rietveld said. “Now he’s interesting because with Collin, you can turn up at a tournament, and you look at his 3-wood, and he’s changed the setting. One day there’s more loft on it, one day there’s less loft on it. He’s that type of guy. He’s not scared to use the adjustability of the club.
“And I think he felt our titanium head didn’t spin as low as his original SIM. So we did some work with the other head, just because he liked the feel of it. It was a little high launching, so we fit him into something with less loft. It’s a naughty little piece of equipment.”
In addition to the driver and fairway wood changes, Morikawa also debuted his new “MySymbol” jersey No. 5 TP5x golf ball at The Masters. Morikawa’s choice of symbols is likely tied to his love of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team.
Not enough changes for you? There’s one more.
On Wednesday at the 2024 RBC Heritage, Morikawa was spotted with a new TaylorMade “Proto” 4-iron in the bag. If you recall, it’s the same model that Rory McIlroy debuted at the 2024 Valero Texas Open.
According to Morikawa, the new Proto 4-iron will replace his old P-770 hollow-bodied 4-iron.
“I used to hit my P-770 on a string, but sometimes the distance would be a little unpredictable,” Morikawa told GolfWRX.com. “This one launches a touch higher, and I feel I can predict the distance better. I know Rory replaced his P-760 with it. I’m liking it so far.”
See Morikawa’s full WITB from the 2024 RBC Heritage here.
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Equipment
Why Rory McIlroy will likely use the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper at the RBC Heritage
Although we spotted Rory McIlroy testing the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper last week during practice rounds at the Masters, he ultimately didn’t decide to use the club in competition.
It seems that will change this week at the 2024 RBC Heritage, played at the short-and-tight Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head.
When asked on Wednesday following his morning Pro-Am if he’d be using the new, nostalgic BRNR Copper this week, McIlroy said, “I think so.”
“I like it,” McIlroy told GolfWRX.com on Tuesday regarding the BRNR. “This would be a good week for it.”
View this post on Instagram
According to Adrian Rietveld, the Senior Manager of Tour at TaylorMade, the BRNR Mini Driver can help McIlroy position himself properly off the tee at the tight layout.
Here’s what Rietveld told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday:
“For someone like Rory, who’s that long at the top end of the bag, and then you put him on a course like Harbour Town, it’s tough off the tee. It’s tight into the greens, and you have to put yourself in position off the tee to have a shot into the green. It kind of reminds me of Valderrama in Spain, where you can be in the fairway and have no shot into the green.
“I’m caddying for Tommy [Fleetwood] this week, so I was walking the course last night and looking at a few things. There’s just such a small margin for error. You can be standing in the fairway at 300 yards and have a shot, but at 320 you don’t. So if you don’t hit a perfect shot, you could be stuck behind a tree. And then if you’re back at 280, it might be a really tough shot into the small greens.
“So for Rory [with the BRNR], it’s a nice course-specific golf club for him. He’s got both shots with it; he can move it right-to-left or left-to-right. And the main thing about this club has been the accuracy and the dispersion with it. I mean, it’s been amazing for Tommy.
“This was the first event Tommy used a BRNR last year, and I remember talking to him about it, and he said he couldn’t wait to play it at Augusta next year. And he just never took it out of the bag because he’s so comfortable with it, and hitting it off the deck.
“So you look at Rory, and you want to have the tools working to your advantage out here, and the driver could hand-cuff him a bit with all of the shots you’d have to manufacture.”
So, although McIlroy might not be making a permanent switch into the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper, he’s likely to switch into it this week.
His version is lofted at 13.5 degrees, and equipped with a Fujikura Ventus Black 7X shaft.
See more photos of Rory testing the BRNR Mini here
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Teaj
Oct 13, 2014 at 9:48 am
the black on the back is that an insert or black paint?
christian
Oct 4, 2014 at 8:31 pm
So I fully expect that Rory’s driving statistics for this season will show a 15 yards increase then..Or?
JOEL GOODMAN
Oct 8, 2014 at 8:10 pm
does anyone really care? he could play with my wilson Staff irons from 1960 and still be world # 1/ Nike makes crap and always will, that’s why they have to pay these guys millions to play their junk.
moses
Oct 4, 2014 at 10:30 am
Looks like it too 1 round to get used to them. 😀
He is lighting it up. Sat round -8 after 13 holes.
Mike
Oct 4, 2014 at 9:48 am
This isn’t rocket science folks. Rory switched because he and Tiger came out and publicly endorsed the new sticks…he’s kind of obligated to play it…my question to this board is how soon will TW switch? Never mind, it just hit me that his new bag matches the color scheme of the new Vapors. When he tees it up at his World Challenge in Dec the new sticks will be in the bag.
max
Oct 2, 2014 at 8:55 pm
No better marketing machine than paying the #1 player big dough to toot the horns of your product.
bradford
Oct 3, 2014 at 7:31 am
Money is in fact the bottom line, but do you think the #1 would take the deal if the equipment weren’t worth it? Is the #1 SOOO much better than the rest that he could beat them with a piece of junk?
Taylormade floods the market, Titleist sells to the Holier than thou crowd, Nike pays athletes.
JH
Oct 3, 2014 at 2:10 pm
Titleist does what? You sound really dumb saying that.
TaylorMade pays more guys to play their stuff than any other company.
Baka
Oct 4, 2014 at 12:35 pm
No, JH, he’s exactly right. All of the Titleist people are like apple customers. Entitleist typically a year late on tech and often borrow ideas from companies that are will to put themselves out there. (TMag, Nike, and Callaway)
mgm
Oct 6, 2014 at 3:16 pm
Titleist pays the most players to use their stuff: don’t forget they are primarily a ball manufacturer, the clubs are an afterthought. Easiest contract to sign is the titleist/footjoy deal. Why do you think its the “number one ball one tour.”
MHendon
Oct 3, 2014 at 3:11 pm
20 million, yeah I think he would have taken the deal even if the equipment was crap. That is if know one else was offering him anything close. However of course the equipment is good, every manufactures equipment is.
littledreamer
Oct 2, 2014 at 7:30 pm
Am I the only one that finds these UGLY?
Used to play 690.MB’s.
Tried all year to like Pro Combos.
Back to 690.mb’s.
Nike has lost me. UGLY!
Ethan
Oct 2, 2014 at 6:15 pm
I also noticed that rory switched shafts in his driver. He is playing the new Diamana.
Jeff
Oct 4, 2014 at 1:33 am
Yeah no kiddin maybe that’s where the 8 yards came from
christian
Oct 4, 2014 at 8:27 pm
15 yards
JR
Oct 2, 2014 at 6:08 pm
He’s gonna use the John Riley’s? Awesome!
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_sop=1&_nkw=john+riley+golf+clubs&LH_PrefLoc=2
MHendon
Oct 3, 2014 at 3:02 pm
Wow been playing for 20 years never heard of or seen those but there is definitely some similarity. What’s old is new again!
Finchley
Oct 4, 2014 at 11:12 am
Not some, but definite rip off.
Wedgie
Oct 4, 2014 at 8:58 pm
MHendon,
Wait till you see the new Nike wedges. They look identical to the Rileys.
Chace
Oct 2, 2014 at 4:42 pm
Does anyone feel the same way, all the Victory Red clubs represent Tiger, and his old dominant era in Nike. Now Rory seems took over that THRONE last year, and Vapor came in just in time. No wonder why he switch so fast to this line, and we may see a lot of fluorescence yellow in his apparels next year too.
Nick
Oct 2, 2014 at 10:30 pm
The “Volt” will be used as a universal colour story across all Nike’s brands. First time ever. You will be seeing that yellow a lot.
Martin de Porres
Oct 5, 2014 at 2:35 am
My old Sasquatch Tour was yellow, as was most Nike’s line.
Zak
Oct 3, 2014 at 12:05 am
Tiger designed the new Vapor Pro irons (they were designed for him from his input and tweeks). They are keeping the cavity back technology in the drivers, but added the compression channel, for Tiger (he loved his old VR Tour driver).
The changes are all for Tiger, not Rory. Tiger is Nike golf. Rory is great right now, but Tiger is still “IT”. Either way, Nike a Golf is in a great situation. I’m loving the Vapor Pro driver. It will be tested ASAP. Same with the Pro irons.
Scooter McGavin
Oct 2, 2014 at 12:42 pm
I don’t see why this would be surprising or unexpected. I hit the Vapor Pro Combo irons and they feel great, so I can only imagine these are great too. That, and if I was getting paid $20 million a year, I’d play with whatever I was told.
moses
Oct 2, 2014 at 10:46 am
2015 another year of adjustments due to new equipment.
2016 another breakout year after getting used to new equipment.
One thing about Tiger is that he rarely switched equipment.
Joel
Oct 2, 2014 at 12:22 pm
So by this logic you don’t think Rory will change what’s in his bag for the 2016 season?
MHendon
Oct 2, 2014 at 4:47 pm
I suspect getting use to the ball was the bigger adjustment for Rory not the equipment and I think he’s sticking with the same ball.
cody
Oct 3, 2014 at 10:12 am
I dont know where this idea that tiger “RARELY” changes equipment comes from. He has switch equipment as much as anyone else out there. I would go through and list all the changes but a simple google interweb search will show you everything you need.
Chris
Oct 3, 2014 at 12:29 pm
I’m going to respectfully disagree. While yes, he may change the actual equipment, the style/shape/design seems to remain the same so the change isn’t that drastic. Hell he was still hitting a 975D with a TT x100 shaft even in 2006
Josh
Oct 2, 2014 at 10:35 am
I have a feeling 2015 is going to be a huge year for Nike Golf.
TW
Oct 2, 2014 at 10:55 am
agreed, ive been a callaway guy for a while but im done with them. On deck…….Titleist/Nike
adolfo
Oct 2, 2014 at 1:03 pm
I agree too. It wouldn’t surprise me in Nike picks up a few more players going into the new year. It wont shock me if TW plays the new irons next yr.
Personally, Im looking forward to trying out that Vapor Driver. Im definitely curious to see what it can do
MHendon
Oct 3, 2014 at 3:07 pm
They’ll pick up a few more players if they pay a few more players. Same as every other manufacturer.
adolfo
Oct 2, 2014 at 1:21 pm
Josh – may want to try out some Mizunos too.