Rory McIlroy WITB 2025 (15th May, 2025) - What's In The Bag? The PGA Championship 2025 @ Quail Hollow

Rory McIlroy: 2025 Season Recap – The Return of the King (Finally)

Well, it actually happened. The drought is over. Rory McIlroy is no longer the guy we hope wins majors — he’s the guy who wins majors. And not just any major: in April 2025, at Augusta National, Rory finally completed the career Grand Slam. Amen Corner turned into Amen Celebration.

Forget all the tortured metaphors and recycled Tiger comparisons. Rory did what he needed to do, and he did it in style — bombing drives, stuffing irons, and rolling putts with the confidence of a man who knows the exact PSI of every golf ball he's ever touched.

But that wasn’t even his first big win of the season.

He kicked off 2025 with a casual W at Pebble Beach — playing golf so precise it felt like a flex. He looked like the kid who stayed behind after school and memorized the textbook just to ruin the curve for everyone else. He was untouchable on approach shots and rolled his ball on those Poa greens like he’d installed the grass himself.

Then came The Players. Rory went full Terminator mode — laser-focused, low-voiced, and absolutely brutal to the field. TPC Sawgrass is supposed to expose flaws. Rory? No flaws. Just shot tracers and smirks.

So let’s summarize: He’s won on the West Coast, won the PGA Tour’s “fifth major,” and actually won a major-major. This isn’t “vintage Rory.” It’s better. This is Version 5.0 — the guy who doesn’t just show up Thursday in pink pants and hit bombs. This guy closes.

Statistically, he's a menace. Top 3 in SG: Total. Leading SG: Tee to Green. And for the first time in forever, he’s actually in the top 10 in putting. Like, actual putting. Not “just missed but it was a good stroke” putting. Real birdie-making, soul-crushing, one-putt-from-40-feet putting.

Rory’s PGA Championship History: Peaks, Valleys, and So Many “What Ifs”

Let’s rewind. Rory has won the PGA Championship twice — in 2012 at Kiawah Island, and again in 2014 at Valhalla. Back then, he was a walking Nike commercial: fast, flashy, and apparently incapable of missing a fairway.

Since then? Not so much.

The last decade of PGA Championships for Rory has been like a prestige HBO drama. Beautifully shot. Critically acclaimed. But every season ends in a cliffhanger and a frustrated fanbase.

There were close calls — like the 2022 Southern Hills heartbreak, where he came out hot and then ghosted the weekend. Or 2023 at Oak Hill, where he looked ready to pounce but left every wedge 25 feet short like he was playing match play against himself.

Despite the ups and downs, Rory always finds a way to lurk around the leaderboard. He’s made 14 cuts in 15 PGA appearances. He has 8 top-10s. The man shows up — but finishing the job? That’s been trickier.

Until now. This year feels different. You can smell it. Or maybe that’s just his new cologne. Either way, don’t be surprised if major #6 happens right here.

What’s In Rory’s 2025 Bag – McIlroy’s Arsenal of Destruction

Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 “Dot” 9° – Fujikura Ventus Black 6X

This driver isn’t just hot, it’s radioactive. The “Dot” head is a tour-only special — meaning you’ll never get your hands on it unless your last name is McIlroy or your handicap is negative. The Ventus Black 6X? Board stiff. Perfect for Rory’s 185mph ball speed and passive-aggressive power fades.

3 Wood: TaylorMade Qi10 15° – Fujikura Ventus Black 8X

This thing is Rory’s scalpel. He nukes it 290+ and still holds greens with it. The 8X shaft is basically rebar dipped in graphite. Try swinging it and you’ll throw out your back and your dreams.

5 Wood: TaylorMade Qi10 18° – Fujikura Ventus Black 9X

This is not a club. It’s a declaration of war on long par 5s. The 9X shaft is for grown men who can compress the sun. Rory uses it to launch moonballs that land softer than a lullaby.

4 Iron: TaylorMade P760 – True Temper Project X 7.0

The P760 is a sleek little muscleback that hits like a sledgehammer. Rory uses this when he needs to pierce the wind and your hopes.

5–9 Irons: TaylorMade Rors Proto – True Temper Project X 7.0

These irons are as custom as it gets. Built for feel, flight, and flexing. The Project X 7.0 shafts are broomsticks — great for guys who don’t flinch at 195-yard 7-irons.

Wedges: TaylorMade MG4 46° (09SB), 50° (09SB), 54° (11SB) – Project X 6.5; 60° (08LB) – Project X 6.5 Wedge

He’s got four wedges because three isn’t enough for all the ridiculous shots he pulls off. These aren’t scoring clubs — they’re artistry tools. Just don’t ask him to lay up. Ever.

Putter: Custom Torched TaylorMade Spider Tour X3 – SuperStroke Zenergy Pistol Tour Grip

This putter is the MVP of 2025. With its charred bronze finish and steady grip, it finally gave Rory the one thing he’s always needed: faith. He’s draining 10-footers like he’s got cheat codes.

Ball: 2025 TaylorMade TP5

Soft, spinny, stable. Rory can shape it both ways, nuke it into orbit, and still spin it back off a shaved green. It’s the ball equivalent of a Ferrari with manners.

Grips: Golf Pride MCC

Half-cord, full attitude. These grips are firm, responsive, and will tear up your hands if you’re not worthy. Rory, of course, is worthy.

PGA Championship at Quail Hollow: Rory’s Week to Lose?

Let’s not beat around the bush. This is Rory’s playground. He’s won here before. He’s shot 61 here before. If Quail Hollow had a locker room, his name would be on it.

The course is long, demanding, and rewards aggressive driving — which is like telling Superman this week’s test is lifting things. He’s leading the tour in strokes gained off the tee, he’s confident with the putter, and he's still riding the emotional high of that green jacket.

Mentally? He's dangerous. Rory isn’t just playing for validation anymore. He’s playing like he wants to dominate.

If the driver stays on script — and the Saturday demons stay locked in the basement — it’s hard to see him not in the final group on Sunday. Quail Hollow sets up perfectly for towering fades and high-spin wedges. In other words: Rory golf.

This week, the weather looks firm and fast, and McIlroy’s approach game has been cleaner than Augusta’s fairways. Combine that with how he's rolling the Spider X3? That’s a deadly combo.

This PGA could be the cherry on top of an already epic season. And if Rory wins again, don’t just hand him the Wanamaker — hand him the whole PGA Tour content team. They’ll need to spend the summer in “Rory Mode.”

Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 “Dot” 9°, Fujikura Ventus Black 6X shaft

3 Wood: TaylorMade Qi10 15°, Fujikura Ventus Black 8X shaft

5 Wood: TaylorMade Qi10 18°, Fujikura Ventus Black 9X shaft

Irons: TaylorMade P760 (4), TaylorMade Rors Proto (5-9), True Temper Project X 7.0 shafts

Wedges: TaylorMade MG4 46° (09SB), 50° (09SB), 54° (11SB), 60° (08LB), True Temper Project X 6.5 (46-54), Project X 6.5 Wedge (60)

Putter: Custom torched TaylorMade Spider Tour X3, SuperStroke Zenergy Pistol Tour grip

Ball: 2025 TaylorMade TP5

Grips: Golf Pride MCC grips

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