Exclusive: Rory McIlroy's hilarious reaction when first using TaylorMade Qi4D Driver
Rory McIlroy’s brilliant opening one-liner on TaylorMade’s new Qi4D Driver says it all.
If TaylorMade were looking for the ultimate seal of approval for their brand new Qi4D Driver, they got it in just three swings — and from Rory McIlroy of all people.
The World No.2 didn’t just like TaylorMade’s 2026 driver… he effectively ended the testing session on the spot.
McIlroy, who famously resisted putting last season’s Qi35 Driver in play and instead stuck with the Qi10 throughout 2025, has wasted absolutely no time jumping on TaylorMade’s latest weapon, which is already the best driver for 2026.
Speaking exclusively to GolfMagic at TaylorMade’s Qi4D launch at The Kingdom in Carlsbad, TaylorMade Director of Product Creation Andrew Oldknow revealed exactly what McIlroy said to the team after giving the new driver a whirl.
“The final validation is seeing these Tour players immediately adopt it,” Oldknow told GolfMagic Equipment Editor Georgina Black.
“I think Rory was after three or four hits. He just turned around and said, ‘we can go to lunch now because this is better than my driver’.”
Job done. Testing over. Lunch booked.
For a player as meticulous — and notoriously hard to please — as McIlroy, that off-the-cuff verdict speaks volumes.
It also underlines just how big a moment this is for TaylorMade, whose Qi4D Driver only officially launched this week.
Scheffler and Fleetwood follow McIlroy's lead
McIlroy isn’t the only superstar already sold on the Qi4D.
Runaway World No.1 Scottie Scheffler has also made an immediate switch, with Oldknow confirming the American had a similar reaction to the Northern Irishman.
“Scottie too has been testing it and immediately said it’s better than his driver,” Oldknow added.
“Scottie has a tight window of when he tests product and right now he’s in that window. He’s testing it as we speak and we’re hoping by the beginning of the year he has it in play as well.”
Meanwhile, World No.3 Tommy Fleetwood — fresh off winning the FedEx Cup and starring in Europe’s Ryder Cup triumph in 2025 — has already put the Qi4D LS straight into competition.
“To see Tommy win the Tour Championship with a driver and then immediately put this new one in play just shows you it really is working,” said Oldknow.
Watch Oldknow's comments about McIlroy, Scheffler and Fleetwood in GolfMagic's latest YouTube video below (skip to 6 minutes):
So as the 2026 season gets underway, the top three players in the world rankings — Scheffler, McIlroy and Fleetwood — are all putting TaylorMade’s new Qi4D Drivers in play.
Do we need to say any more?
That alone is a marketing dream for TaylorMade.
But the numbers coming out of their testing sessions make the story even juicier.
All three PGA Tour superstars have taken to social media to reveal eye-opening gains in ball speed and carry distance.
Their switches into the new Qi4D range mark their fastest ever of their pro careers.
But when you see their distance gains below, it's easy to see why.
Scroll down to check out their stats...
Scottie Scheffler
- Qi4D Driver (8°)
- Ventus Black 7X shaft
- Ball speed: up 3mph to 179mph
- Carry distance: up 6 yards to 309 yards
Rory McIlroy
- Qi4D Driver (9°)
- Ventus Black 6X shaft
- Ball speed: up 1.5mph to a staggering 188mph
- Carry distance: up 9 yards to a monstrous 327 yards
Given McIlroy is already regarded as one of the best drivers of the ball the game has ever seen, those numbers will send a shiver down the spines of his rivals.
Tommy Fleetwood
- Qi4D LS Driver (9°)
- Ventus TR Blue 6X shaft
- Ball speed: up 3mph to 176mph
- Carry distance: up nearly 9 yards to 303 yards
More speed. More carry. More confidence.
TaylorMade’s statement moment
McIlroy and Fleetwood will both kick off their 2026 campaigns in the Middle East, starting at the Dubai Invitational next week, followed by the Dubai Desert Classic.
Scheffler will begin his season stateside at The AmEx two weeks later. He will also play at the WM Phoenix Open, a happy hunting ground for him at TPC Scottsdale, as well as the iconic AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
TaylorMade has confirmed all three of the world’s best players will be wielding their newest drivers in 2026.
From McIlroy’s lunchtime quip to Scheffler’s instant buy-in and Fleetwood’s competitive switch, the Qi4D launch has landed with a bang.
TaylorMade couldn’t have scripted it better.
GolfMagic Equipment Editor Georgina Black has already taken a first look at the new Qi4D Drivers and the rest of TaylorMade's 2026 range.
Check out our latest TaylorMade reviews:
Keep it locked to the GolfMagic YouTube channel to check out all of Georgina's latest reviews of all-new 2026 products.
Andy Roberts first joined GolfMagic on a month's work experience back in April 2011.
Andy then assumed the role of GolfMagic Editor in 2015.