News

Rory McIlroy: “Take that GolfWRX,” and why he said it

Published

9 years ago

Sep 20, 2017

Rory McIlroy recently appeared on the No Laying Up podcast to discuss all manner of things. Around 20 minutes into the interview, the conversation turned to the Ulsterman’s equipment, leading ultimately to a mention of our fair website.

Now, to understand why Rory McIlroy would jokingly say, “Take that GolfWRX,” you need a bit (OK, a lot) of context.

In early February, GolfWRX member lovedoctor started a thread titled “Rory McIlroy to sign with Callaway in 2017.” Not difficult to guess what the good doctor’s central claim was, which he attributed to information from “a reliable source.”

McIlroy had been without an equipment deal since Nike’s departure from that space in August of last year. Speculation was rampant about where Rory would land, especially after the golfer tested equipment in Dubai at the end of last year.

On the second page of the thread, Chris Solomon of No Laying Up joined the discussion by replying to lovedoctor’s initial post with: “This is simply not true. Rory will not be signing a deal in 2017.”

Soly’s source for that particular information was almost certainly McIlroy himself. And, as McIlroy lays out in the NLU podcast, he had planned to remain a free agent for 2017. However, that effort turned out to be more trouble than it was worth, and he was rumored to be unhappy with his golf ball at the Masters.

One thing led to another, McIlroy publicly swooned over TaylorMade’s TP5x ball, and he signed a full bag deal with TMag in May.

So, Soly was ultimately wrong, in a sense, (so was lovedoctor) but he told the truth as he’d heard it straight from the horse’s mouth at the time.

Thus, you have the convoluted context for why Rory McIlroy mentioned GolfWRX. You can hear the exchange around 24 minutes into the podcast.

And thanks for the shout-out, Rors!

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Ben Alberstadt

Ben Alberstadt is the Editor-in-Chief at GolfWRX, where he’s led editorial direction and gear coverage since 2018. He first joined the site as a freelance writer in 2012 after years spent working in pro shops and bag rooms at both public and private golf courses, experiences that laid the foundation for his deep knowledge of equipment and all facets of this maddening game. Based in Philadelphia, Ben’s byline has also appeared on PGATour.com, Bleacher Report...and across numerous PGA DFS and fantasy golf platforms. Off the course, Ben is a committed cat rescuer and, of course, a passionate Philadelphia sports fan. Follow him on Instagram @benalberstadt.

16 Comments

Bosa

Sep 24, 2017 at 2:44 pm

Rory mcilroy is the ugliest human being on the planet.

Reply Report comment
Jacked_Loft

Sep 23, 2017 at 4:19 am

I don’t believe it. Something written in golfwrx was incorrect.

Reply Report comment
Speedy

Sep 21, 2017 at 8:55 pm

Rors, least-liked pro golfer?

Reply Report comment
TheCityGame

Sep 21, 2017 at 12:14 pm

The best was in Part 2 when Rory said that if he could be anyone in the world for a week, he’d pick this stud horse that rides mares 4 times a day and gets $500,000 per nut.

lovedoctor predicted he was going to say Tiger Woods.

He was half right.

Reply Report comment
- Barry
  
  Sep 21, 2017 at 7:39 pm
  
  That about sums it up for Rory, lol
  
  Reply Report comment
Irma

Sep 21, 2017 at 2:21 am

Still wearing girly Nike clothes tough, Rors. How about introducing some other cool men’s athletic clothing company about now?

Reply Report comment
moses

Sep 20, 2017 at 3:54 pm

Thanks for the shout out Rory. Just gives the sight more exposure and legitimacy. 😀

Reply Report comment
Andrew

Sep 20, 2017 at 1:15 pm

Hey Rory! Since we now know you read WRX, know this: We can smell little man syndrome half a world away. And it’s always about the money.

Reply Report comment
- GolfCodeWeekly
  
  Sep 20, 2017 at 6:31 pm
  
  We?
  
  Unless you are referring to yourself?
  
  Your post just makes you look like a hater, jealous of his success
  
  Rory has a great attitude
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Andrew
    
    Sep 21, 2017 at 2:02 pm
    
    Autofail for using the cliches hater and jealous. I’ve never seen your name before. We, is not you. Success? Attitude? These words are too big for you. Please step away from the grown-up table.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1zNbKfUwTE
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSi1C9yTwJE
    
    Reply Report comment
- Speedy
  
  Sep 21, 2017 at 8:57 pm
  
  Right on, Andrew.
  
  Reply Report comment
Old Gaffer

Sep 20, 2017 at 1:05 pm

I love those rusty TM wedges. Why don’t they also make their irons rusty too?
Chrome plating is a horrid environmentally with the heavy metals and electricity.
Make them all naturally raw forgings!

Reply Report comment
- Brian
  
  Sep 21, 2017 at 10:15 am
  
  Most consumers don’t want their iron sets to rust. Wedges are replaced regularly compared to the typical golfer’s iron sets.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Big J
    
    Jan 17, 2018 at 12:12 am
    
    Really? I’ve had four sets of irons since I last changed my wedges. Must just be me.
    
    Reply Report comment
Chris B

Sep 20, 2017 at 12:49 pm

Well you can’t really swoon over a 10 million a year deal in public, so the ball will have to do.

Reply Report comment
RobertMuellerIII

Sep 20, 2017 at 11:59 am

….and subsequently “lovedoctor” banished himself from the site, complaining of unfair targeting by the mods. The PXG challenge was withdrawn, too…

Reply Report comment

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Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2026 Memorial Tournament

Published

2 days ago

Jun 1, 2026

Ben A

GolfWRX is on site this week at the Memorial Tournament, with both Alistair Cameron and Tour Photographer Greg Moore on the ground in Dublin, Ohio, where a strong field is assembled to pay homage to the Golden Bear.

In addition to WITB galleries, we’ve already been treated to an in-hand look at Tommy Fleetwood’s new TaylorMade Spider putters.

Check out links to all our photos below.

General Albums

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

News

Tour Tech Rundown: Heroic Henley

Published

2 days ago

Jun 1, 2026

Ronald Montesano

Around the world, the golf wheel spun this final week in May of 2026. From New Jersey to Austria, with stops in Korea, Texas, and North Carolina (don’t let me route your next trip) the world’s finest put their golf games on display. There were three playoffs, some known commodities and some new talent. It was the sort of week that we hope to have at this point in the seasons. June and July afford double-digit major events, and perhaps, one of this week’s champions will use this success as a springboard to new heights. Time to run it all down, tech style, in this week’s Tour Tech Rundown.

Thanks to WITBHub, Today’s Golfer, GolfWRX, and Inside Tour Golf for initial research into equipment.

PGA Tour @ Charles Schwab Challenge: Heroic Henley denies Cole

Eric Cole did nearly everything that a fellow can do, to secure a first PGA Tour title. He stayed one shot clear of Ryder Cup player Ben Griffin. He kept US Open champion Gary Woodland and wunderkind Michael Brennan two shots distant. He posted 70 on day four to reach twelve under par. And then, Russell Henley revealed his Dr. Strange cloak. Henley made 47 feet of birdie putts on holes 16, 17, and 18, to jump from minus-nine to twelve-deep, and secured a spot in a playoff with Cole. The duo returned to the final tee, and put on a stripe show.

Both golfers found the fairway off the tee, and Henley improved on his regulation play with an approach to four feet. Cole did himself proud, tucking an iron to a dozen feet, but he was unable to convert the putt for three. Henley is one of the best putters on tour, and he proved it once more by draining a putt for a fourth consecutive birdie, and a sixth PGA Tour title. For Eric Cole, that first victory should come, and soon. He has done everything necessary to earn the chalice lift.

Henley’s Suitcase

Driver: Titleist TSi3 at 10 degrees. Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 70g 6.5 TX
Metal: Titleist TS3 at 16.5 degrees. Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 80 TX
Hybrid: Titleist TSi2 at 21 degrees. Shaft: Mitsubishi MMT hybrid 100 TX
Iron: Titleist T250 4-iron. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Golf AMT Tour White X100
Irons: Titleist T100 5-6 irons. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Golf AMT Tour White X100
Irons: Titleist T100 7-9 irons. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 at 48 and 50 degrees. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Golf Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 at 54 and 60 degrees. Shaft: rue Temper Dynamic Golf Tour Issue S400
Putter: Titleist Scotty Cameron T5 Tour Prototype

LPGA @ Shoprite LPGA: Welcome back, Celine!

Soo Bin Joo had her eyes on a maiden LPGA title. She held the lead after two rounds, then hit a red light at the intersection of can-I and how-To. Joo posted plus-two on day three in New Jersey, and dropped to a T4 finish, which was still a career-best for the young Korean golfer. Instead of a new face, a familiar face returned to the top of the podium.

Celine Boutier was the It Girl in 2023. She collected four victories, including a major title at Evian. Boutier reached world number one status, then simply faded into the background. No wins came her way over the next 30 months. On Sunday, she collected LPGA victory number seven, at the same trace as LPGA victory number two.

Day three saw Boutier manage the windswept Seaview Bay course with six birdies and a bogey. She was challenged in the end by Thailand’s Arpichaya Yubol, who signed for a 66 of her own. Yubol came up one shot shy of the top ladder rung. Finishing in third place at -7, two back of the winner, was Ireland’s Lauren Walsh.

Celine’s Suitcase

Driver: PXG 0311 Black Ops Tour-1 at 9 degrees. Shaft: Graphite Design AD IZ-5
Hybrid: PXG 0311 Black Ops at 19 and 22 degrees. Shaft: KBS Hybrid Prototype
Hybrid: PXG 0311 Gen5.
Iron: PXG 0311 P Gen 4 5-9 irons
Wedge: PXG 0311 T Gen 4 PW
Wedges: PXG 0311 Sugar Daddy II at 50, 54, 58 degrees
Putter: Bettinardi Studio Stock 3 DASS

DP World Tour @ Austrian Alpine: KK? KK!

Kota Kaneko has a rhythmic name. It has strong vowels and a run of voiceless stops in its crunchy K sounds. On Sunday in Austria, Kaneko put a stop to a challenge from Portugal’s Ricardo Gouveia and everyone else, and claimed a first-ever title on the DP World Tour. Gouveia did well to reach 16-under par over four days, but Kaneko held firm, two shots in the clear.

Davis Bryant of the USA also forged a strong challenge for the win. He ended in a tie with Gouveia for second place. Kaneko began and finished his final round in a bit of a malaise, but he caught fire midway through. Birdies at 10, 12, and 13 provided the necessary cushion to cruise to the finish line without breaking a serious sweat.

Kaneko’s Suitcase

Driver: Ping Max G440
Metals: TaylorMade Qi4D at 15, 16.5, 21, and 24 degrees
Irons: TaylorMade P760 5 and 6 irons
Irons: TaylorMade P7TW 7-9 irons
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design at 46, 52, 56, and 60 degrees
Putter: Odyssey Ai-One Cruiser Arm Lock #7

Korn Ferry Tour @ UNC Health Championship: Improbably Alvaro

Alvaro Ortiz may have had a bit of scare on the outward nine on Sunday, but he came through in clutch fashion in the end. Ortiz began the day bogey-double, and added another double bogey at the 11th hole. He was mired in a downward trend, spiraling away from the top of the leader’s board. Ortiz found hope at the 14th, where his first birdie of the day tumbled home. Inspired, he closed with birdies and 17 and 18 to catch Ross Steelman at 10-under par, and the duo returned to the 18th deck for overtime.

The extra session concluded in brief time. Ortiz, buoyed by his newly-retrieved confidence, hit the fairway with driver, then approached to six feet and drained the putt. Gobsmacked, Steelman could do little more than smile and applaud, as his run at the top came to a close. The victory was the first for Ortiz on the KFT, and will implant him squarely in the chase for a PGA Tour promotion.

Alvaro’s Suitcase

Driver: Ping G430 MAX driver at 9 degrees loft
Metal: Ping G430 MAX 3W
Iron: Ping iDi Driving Iron
Irons: Ping Blueprint S irons
Wedges
Putter: Scottsdale TR Piper C

A party on the green!

Alvaro’s time comes in Raleigh with his first win @UNCHealthChamp ? pic.twitter.com/2dmtZdbSzk

— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) May 31, 2026

LIV @ Korea: Me llamo Joaquin

Chile’s Joaquin Niemann had been away from the LIV winner’s circle throughout all of 2026. This week in Korea, he reminded us that he is still a force to consider. Niemann chased down Taylor Gooch over the closing holes at Asiad Country Club, then claimed victory with a hole-one birdie in extra time. Bryson DeChambeau claimed solo third, one shot in arrears at minus-eleven. Dustin Johnson finished on fourth, one putt farther back.

Niemann’s Suitcase