Equipment
Rory McIlroy spotted testing a new TaylorMade “PROTO” 4-iron at the 2024 Valero Texas Open
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.”
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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!
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We will be one quarter of the way through Thursday night men’s league season after this week. BK played much better last week, so he is hoping to continue that success and post another good score.
Here are the 14 clubs that will hopefully win him some skins!
Driver: PXG 0311 Black Ops (9 degrees, neutral setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 6 X (2024)
3-wood: Cobra Dark Speed LS Titanium (14.5 degrees, set +1)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD IZ-7x
Fairway: Callaway Apex UW (19 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura ATMOS Tour Spec Blue 8 X
Hybrid: PXG 0311 Black Ops 4h (22 degrees, Flat Setting)
Shaft: KBS Tour Graphite Hybrid Prototype 85 S
Irons: TaylorMade P770 Phantom Black (5-PW)
Shaft: KBS Tour 120 Stiff
Wedge: PXG Sugar Daddy II (50-13 BP)
Shaft: Nippon Modus3 Tour 120 Stiff
Wedge: PXG Sugar Daddy II (56-13 BP)
Shaft: Nippon Modus3 Tour 120 Stiff
Wedge: PXG Sugar Daddy II (60-13 BP)
Shaft: Nippon Modus3 Tour 120 Stiff
Putter: L.A.B. Mezz.1 Max
Shaft: Accra x L.A.B. White
Ball: Titleist ProV1 Enhanced Alignment
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- Jon Rahm what’s in the bag accurate as of the PGA Championship. 15 clubs pictured. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (10.5 degrees) Buy here.
Shaft: Aldila Tour Green ATX 75 2.8 TX
3-wood: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond T (High Launch, 16 degrees) Buy here.
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 8 X
5-wood: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond T (18 degrees) Buy here.
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 8 X
Irons: Callaway Apex UT (21 degrees) Buy here, Callaway Apex Pro (4) Buy here, Callaway Apex TCB (5-10) Buy here.
Shafts: KBS Tour Hybrid Prototype 105 X (21), Project X 6.5 (4-PW)
Wedges: Callaway Jaws Forged (52-10, 56-12) Buy here, Callaway Jaws Raw (60-04C) Buy here.
Shafts: Project X 125 6.5
Putter: Odyssey Ai-One Rossie S Buy here.
Grips: Golf Pride MCC midsize
More photos of Jon Rahm’s WITB in the forums.
More Jon Rahm WITBs
- Jon Rahm’s winning WITB: 2023 Genesis Invitational
- Jon Rahm WITB 2022 (July)
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- Jon Rahm WITB 2022 (January, new photos)
- Jon Rahm WITB 2022 (January)
- Jon Rahm WITB 2021 (September)
- Jon Rahm WITB 2021 (Masters)
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- Jon Rahm WITB 2021 (Callaway)
- Jon Rahm WITB (October 2020)
- Jon Rahm WITB 2020
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- Jon Rahm WITB 2018
- Jon Rahm WITB 2017
- Jon Rahm WITB 2016
- Jon Rahm winning WITB: 2022 Mexico Open at Vidanta
- Jon Rahm winning WITB: 2021 US Open
- Jon Rahm winning WITB: 2020 BMW Championship
- Jon Rahm winning WITB: 2020 Memorial
- Jon Rahm winning WITB: 2019 DP World Championship
- Jon Rahm winning WITB: 2019 Open de Espana
- Jon Rahm winning WITB: 2018 Hero World Challenge
- Jon Rahm winning WITB: 2018 Open de Espana
- Jon Rahm winning WITB: 2018 CareerBuilder Challenge
- Jon Rahm winning WITB: 2017 DP World Championship
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The second major of the season is here, and with it, custom gear aplenty! Taking inspiration from both Louisville, Kentucky, and host course Valhalla, the OEMs have been having some fun with the designs.
Check out PGA Championship staff bags, some custom kicks, and a very cool putter grip from SuperStroke.
2024 PGA Championship staff bags
Callaway
PGA Championship Staff Bag Giveaway ? See below how you can win the bag and headcovers being used this week by #TeamCallaway at the second major of the year:
-Follow @callawaygolf
-Tag 2 friends in the comments pic.twitter.com/8HbGdPHiFK— Callaway Golf (@CallawayGolf) May 13, 2024
Cobra
TaylorMade
From the stables to the fairway. ?
This year’s PGA Championship staff bag and accessories pay homage to the Derby City with callouts to the run for the roses, the fastest lap in track history and more.
Dive into all the details of this beauty: https://t.co/afhEVKHWLj pic.twitter.com/8eoP6tDZq1
— TaylorMade Golf (@TaylorMadeGolf) May 13, 2024
Scotty Cameron’s putter cover features the Scotty Dog in Viking helmet
Bettinardi’s KFC-inspired putter covers
Ping’s bourbon-inspired putter cover
Rory McIlroy’s Kentucky Bourbon Trail-inspired Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 3 shoes
FootJoy x Todd Snyder Mint Julep Premier Series
(Photo courtesy of FootJoy)
Brooks Koepka’s Kentucky Bourbon Trail-inspired Nike Air Zoom Infinity Tour shoes
(Photo courtesy of Nike)
SuperStroke’s PGA Championship grip
Check out all of our photos from Valhalla here.
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Kinny
Apr 5, 2024 at 7:44 pm
That is a refashioned callaway legacy black!?
Roy
Apr 4, 2024 at 1:24 pm
Somehow I don’t think it’s the 4 iron holding Rory back…
Matthew Caraway
Apr 4, 2024 at 10:10 am
It almost looks like the old forged taylormade 300 series,
gery
Apr 3, 2024 at 11:26 pm
For all practical purposes, that is the 20-yr-old RAC TP forged design.
billy baroo
Apr 4, 2024 at 9:39 am
literally said the same thing when i saw it.
Luv
Apr 3, 2024 at 7:35 pm
Bringing back that RAC look. Love it