Rory McIlroy reveals exactly when his driver was last tested before historic Masters win

Rory McIlroy has confirmed to Golf Channel's Kira K. Dixon that his 'gamer' TaylorMade driver passed a USGA test in the weeks leading up to The Masters. 

McIlroy, 36, made his revelation while speaking to Dixon on the range ahead of this week's RBC Canadian Open at TPC Toronto. 

The Northern Irishman's TaylorMade Qi10 Driver was one of approximately 10 models out of 50 to fail a C.T. test with the USGA on the eve of last month's PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte. 

McIlroy's driver was found to be "non-conforming" by the USGA on Tuesday 13 May, specifically due to exceeding the spring-like effect of the club face. 

The USGA regularly uses a C.T. test to measure the flexibility of a driver face, and McIlroy's driver exceeded the legal limit.

McIlroy admitted during his Wednesday press conference that he shunned all interview requests during the PGA Championship because he was "p*****d" that two media members had leaked news of his failed test.

And his only...

The World No.2 considers that information was strictly confidential, and should not have been disclosed in the media. 

McIlroy confessed he and other players knew prior to the PGA Championship that Scottie Scheffler's Qi10 Driver had also failed a test, but that he was never going to say anything in the media because he "didn't want to throw him under the bus." 

Scheffler of course went on to see out a commanding five-shot victory and capture a third career major title. 

It also moved the runaway World No.1 half way to the career grand slam, something McIlroy achieved when slipping on the famous Green Jacket at The Masters on 13 April. 

Exactly a month before his driver failed. 

After news emerged McIlroy's driver was "non-conforming" by the USGA, a number of golf fans rushed on to social media to question whether his driver was legal at The Masters.

McIlroy confirmed his 'gamer' TaylorMade driver was not tested at Augusta National, but that it was tested before The Masters in March. 

The 29-time PGA Tour winner did not confirm exactly when in March, but he played in three tournaments that month at the Arnold Palmer Invitational (6-9). The Players Championship (13-17) and Texas Children's Houston Open (27-30), so it took place at one of those. 

He finished T15 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, won The Players Championship for a second time in his career and then finished T5 at the Houston Open. 

The Ulsterman also confirmed his driver did not get tested again after March until before the PGA Championship on 13 May. 

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McIlroy has won three times so far on the PGA Tour in 2025, the joint most with Scheffler. 

He spoke more about the USGA's driver testing process - and his grudge with two certain media members - during his interview with Golf Channel's Kira K. Dixon ahead of the RBC Canadian Open.

McIlroy also confirmed he has now replaced his Qi10 with TaylorMade's newer Qi35 driver. 

"So our drivers get tested from time to time at tournaments," McIlroy told Dixon. 

"Mine got tested in March and passed, and then it didn't get tested again until May and it didn't pass. 

"Out of 50 drivers that were tested at the PGA [Championship], I think nine or 10 failed. 

"Obviously the winner of the tournament's driver failed, and I think one of the things as well is I knew that and I know a lot of people did know that, but it's supposed to be kept confidential but my name was the one that was leaked. 

"So I wasn't happy about that, I felt, I was a little annoyed at that part of it, and I didn't want to get up there and that information about Scottie is not mine to share so I didn't want to get up there and throw him under the bus. It just wasn't a good situation to speak on I felt at that moment. 

"But yeah look, you use a driver for 12 to 15 months and inevitably the more hits with it it's going to creep over the line and unfortunately mine crept over the line at some point.

"I loved that driver and that's why I kept it for so long, so the last few weeks has been a good reset to find a driver I'm comfortable with going into the second half of the season." 

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