Update, 5:30 p.m.: Regarding his prototype iron, McIlroy offered this in his pre-tournament press conference:

“Yeah, I went out, spent a couple of days with the TaylorMade guys at the Kingdom. Yeah, they just produced these couple of proto, I guess like are they the MC replacements maybe…

“They performed really well. It’s just as fast as the 760 that I was using. Launch is a little higher actually, which was surprising, and it’s just sometimes I felt like when I hit my 5-iron in the blade and then the 4-iron in the 760 it was such a different feel. To go from a 5-iron now to that 4-iron, it feels a little closer to what I feel in the 5-iron. So just a little bit more responsive, but didn’t lose any performance from it, which is great. Yeah, it will be in the bag this week.”
————————————————————————-
Now just what do we have here?

On Wednesday at the 2024 Valero Texas Open, GolfWRX.com spotted Rory McIlroy testing a new, mysterious TaylorMade “PROTO” 4-iron.

Clearly, the 4-iron is a prototype, but since it doesn’t say “Rors Proto” or “RM” on it, then maybe it’s a prototype for an upcoming iron release from TaylorMade. Or, maybe it’s an upgrade for a previous or existing iron model from the company.

For reference, the photo below shows what McIlroy’s previous P760 4-iron looks like…

If the new prototype was an upgrade on the former P760 design, that would certainly be a large design departure, aesthetically speaking. It’s not impossible, but the new proto definitely looks significantly different.

McIlroy’s new proto – aesthetically, at least – looks more similar to TaylorMade’s P7MC irons, a model that Collin Morikawa uses for his 5 and 6-irons, as pictured below.

The new proto is also reminiscent of TaylorMade’s old P750 and P770 irons:

So what could McIlroy’s new TaylorMade “Proto” be? Is it a one-off prototype for McIlroy? Is it a re-design of an older model? Is it a harbinger of a bigger release in the future?

What is it?!

Unfortunately, TaylorMade hasn’t yet commented publicly on the prototype iron, so for now, we wait. And enjoy the photos of McIlroy testing it on Wednesday in San Antonio.

Here’s what it looks like from address…

And here’s what McIlroy’s numbers looked like while testing it on the range…

Uhh, yeah. Those are pretty good 4-iron numbers.

Will McIlroy make the switch into the new prototype 4-iron this week? That remains to be seen, but it should be noted that it was the only 4-iron in his bag on Wednesday.

*We’ll update this post as further information becomes available

See what GolfWRX members are saying about the TaylorMade “Proto” 4-iron here, plus more photos!

• Raul Pereda what’s in the bag accurate as of the Texas Children’s Houston Open. More photos from the event here.

Driver: Titleist TSR2 (10 degrees, B2 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD VF 5 X

3-wood: Titleist TSR3 (15 degrees, B1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD IZ 7 X

• Check out more in-hand photos of Raul Pereda’s clubs here.

7-wood: Ping G430 Max (21 degrees)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD IZ 8 X

Irons: Titleist T150 (4), Titleist T100 (5-9)
Shafts: True Temper AMT Tour White X100

• Check out more in-hand photos of Raul Pereda’s clubs here.

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (46-10F, 50-08F, 54-08M, 60-08M)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

Putter: Odyssey 2-Ball Ten Tour Lined
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy

• Check out more in-hand photos of Raul Pereda’s clubs here.

Grips: Golf Pride ZGrip Cord

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x+

Check out more in-hand photos of Raul Pereda’s clubs here.

• Rickie Fowler what’s in the bag accurate as of the Valero Texas Open. More photos from the event here.

Driver: Cobra Darkspeed X (9 degrees @7)
Shaft: Project X Denali Black 70 TX

3-wood: Cobra Aerojet LS (14.5 degrees @13.5 degrees)
Shaft: Aldila Tour Green 75 TX

• Check out more in-hand photos of Rickie Fowler’s clubs here.

5-wood: Cobra LTDx LS (17.5 degrees @18.5)
Shaft: UST Mamiya LIN-Q White M40X 8F5

Irons: Cobra King Tour (4-PW)
Shafts: KBS Tour C-Taper 125 S+

• Check out more in-hand photos of Rickie Fowler’s clubs here.

Wedges: Cobra Snakebite (54, 56, 58 degrees)
Shafts: KBS Tour 610

Putter: Odyssey Versa Jailbird
Grip: SuperStroke Tour 3.0 17-inch

• Check out more in-hand photos of Rickie Fowler’s clubs here.

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Tack

Ball: TaylorMade TP5

Check out more in-hand photos of Rickie Fowler’s clubs here.