Charlotte, N.C. – Rory McIlroy was part of about 50 players whose drivers were tested prior to the PGA Championship. This was described as a normal procedure designed to protect players who are not aware of whether the club is exceeding the limit on Saturday.
McIlroy gave particular attention when the Sirius XM PGA Tour Radio reported on Friday afternoon that his driver was deemed a misfit and that Masters Champion could no longer use it in Quail Hollow.
McIlroy has not spoken to the media after opening three rounds.
Kelly Hay, Chief Championship Officer of the PGA of America, confirmed that USGA was asked to test its drivers at the PGA Championship. The USGA, which controls golf in the US and Mexico, regularly tests on the PGA Tour when asked.
The results are confidential.
Haigh said the standard process is for a third of the 156-person field to undergo driver tests, and that’s the case for Cool Hollow.
“It’s not unusual for a club that has been hit thousands of times over a long period of time, finding a driver head sneaking through the line of fit,” Hay said in a statement. “The outcome is kept secret to protecting players who don’t know they’re responsible for dropping out of adaptation other than attacking thousands of times.”
Drivers exceeding USGA limits should be replaced, especially if the face is too thin and can cause slight trampoline effects. Hay said players will change “without any issues.”
“The public identification of a player that a club did not fit can lead to unnecessarily questioning the player,” Hay said. “Neither the USGA nor the US PGA have any concerns about the player’s intentions.”
Some companies tend to keep their distances as thin as possible, and thin their faces within limits. A constant hit at 115 mph at swing speed allows the club to become a misfit known as “creep” at over 120 mph per hour on the power player.
Research shows that drivers can sneak up after 5,000 swings. This usually takes about four months depending on how much you play and practice.
McIlroy was particularly notable as he only hit 10 fairways on 36 holes, the last of the 74 players who reduced driving accuracy. He hit nine fairways on Saturday in the 72nd round.
This was at least the second time a random driver test was reported. Xander Schauffele had to replace the driver in the 2019 British Open.