Rory McIlroy makes shock driver claim ahead of DP World India Championship

Rory McIlroy has told reporters he will unlikely be using his TaylorMade driver all week at the inaugural DP World India Championship.

McIlroy, 36, is making his competitive Indian debut on the Lodhi Course at Delhi GC in New Delhi. 

The course measures just 6,912 yards, which is among the shortest on the DP World Tour’s 2025 Race to Dubai schedule.

The par-72 layout is laid out among ruined tombs and provides an exacting test for the best DP World Tour players. 

It's also one of the narrowest courses on the rota meaning there is a premium on accuracy. 

After receiving a warm welcome from tournament officials and fans and having got his first taste of the course on Monday and Tuesday, grand slam champion McIlroy has already reached one conclusion: Keep the headcover on the driver.

Despite being one of the best drivers of the ball, McIlroy has told the media on the eve of the DP World India Championship that he does intend to hit his TaylorMade Qi10 Driver all week, even on the four par-5s.

McIlroy believes with so much trouble lurking around the Lodhi Course at Delhi Golf Club that the driver is the one club that could lead to some big numbers for players in the field, even if they are one of the best players in the world like himself. 

The Northern Irishman admits he will be more than happy to just lay well back off the tee on the par-4 and par-5s with a fairway wood, hybrid or even a long iron to ensure he finds the short grass more often than not. 

"I'd say that the next time I hit my driver will be in Abu Dhabi," said McIlroy while stifling a laugh. 

"I don't think I'll hit a driver this week. I just don't feel like the risk is worth the reward. 

"I'd rather leave myself two or three clubs back and hit a 7-iron into a par 4 instead of hitting a wedge where if you just get it offline here and the ball is gone.

"You're hitting it into jungle and you're not going to be able to get it out. You can rack up a very big number very quickly."

McIlroy, who is making his first competitive appearance since helping Europe win the Ryder Cup in New York last month, added: "I think being strategic and being smart with your play off the tee, especially, is very important. I can see why S.S.P. [Chawrasia] has done so well around here. 

"You just keep hitting it down the middle, hit it 260, 250, 260 every single time, and if you do that, then you can do very well around this golf course."

So there we have it folks.

If you are playing a tight golf course this weekend, just remember, not even McIlroy will be taking a chance with his driver. 

Watch McIlroy's interview here:

Shane Lowry, who is also in the field this week, echoes his best pal's sentiments. 

"It’s kind of refreshing to be playing a golf course like this," said Lowry, who is making his first appearance in India since 2010.

"We play so many golf courses now where you don’t even think about it and just hit driver on every hole.

"It’s just an old school golf course and it’s very tight off the tee. It’s going to be enjoyable to play."

Despite saying not many drivers will be in play this week, Lowry took to social media to show off by nailing a beautiful fade down the fairway. 

The Lodhi Course was redesigned in 1977 by Peter Thomson and again in 2019 by Gary Player Design.

Indian home favourite Anirban Lahiri, who now plays on Bryson DeChambeau's Crushers GC on the LIV Golf League, is also in the field.

He has most certainly agreed with McIlroy's early assessment of the golf course given he has been playing here since the age of 12.

Lahiri has been so offline here in the past that he has had to get some new clothes. 

"I've had many a torn shirt from the bushes," reflected Lahiri, who first came to Delhi Golf Club in 1999.

"It took me a mere 10-15 years to figure out what I needed to do but it has been a love affair since then.

"I am hoping I can continue that. I am just excited to be back on a happy hunting ground."

McIlroy is looking to win for the second time on the DP World Tour and for the fifth time around the world this season.

He won for the first time ever at Pebble Beach on the PGA Tour before adding a second career win at The Players Championship at famed Sawgrass.

McIlroy then completed the career grand slam at The Masters in April to become just the sixth player in the modern era to achieve golf immortality.

The World No.2 then won for the second time in his career at his home Irish Open at The K Club, shortly before taking three and half points en route to helping Luke Donald's Europe to a 15-13 victory at Bethpage Black last month. 

The Northern Irishman is now not only looking to win for the first time on Indian soil but he's also seeking a seventh Race to Dubai title and fourth in a row. 

McIlroy currently owns a 400-point lead over Marco Penge in the DP World Tour Rankings right now.

The Ulsterman can stretch further clear ahead of next month's DP World Tour Playoffs as Penge has taken the week off after winning his third title of the season at the Open de Espana on Sunday. 

Should McIlroy go on to win the Race to Dubai again at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, he will move to within one of record eight-time Order of Merit holder Colin Montgomerie. 

Tommy Fleetwood and Viktor Hovland are also European Ryder Cup members taking part, as too victorious captain Donald.

PGA Tour stars Ben Griffin and Brian Harman have also made the trip over to compete in India this week.

The DP World India Championship has a total prize pot of $4m, which is a record for an Indian golf tournament on the DP World Tour.