Rory McIlroy’s Decision to Change Irons After an Extraordinary Season: A Surprising Yet Rational Move
When golfers opt for equipment changes, it’s typically driven by a quest for improvement.
This may involve a new driver aimed at increasing distance, a response to a slump when confidence wavers, or after a series of poor performances. We’re accustomed to seeing players revamp their gear when things aren’t going well.
However, it’s rare to witness such changes after a season described as “the best of my career.” Yet, this is exactly what Rory McIlroy is doing.
McIlroy’s 2025 season was remarkable. He achieved the career Grand Slam at Augusta, won on both the PGA and DP World Tours, played a pivotal role in a historic away Ryder Cup victory, secured a seventh Race to Dubai title, and earned the title of Sports Personality of the Year.
Why Is McIlroy Changing Irons After His Best Season?
So, why is McIlroy making this change following such a successful year? It turns out, 2025 was actually his worst season on record for ‘Strokes Gained: Approach’.
Ranking 68th on the PGA Tour, he averaged only 0.157 shots gained per round with his irons. In stark contrast, Scottie Scheffler, his principal competitor, led the pack with 1.291 shots per round. This considerable gap underscores McIlroy’s need for improvement, which he hopes to achieve with new irons.
Historically, McIlroy’s approach play has been significantly better, with rankings as high as 2nd, 8th, and 12th during his best seasons. Even in less favorable years, he typically ranks much closer to the top than 68th.
What stands out about this decline in his iron play is that McIlroy excelled with both his driver and putter in 2025, securing 4th in ‘SG: Off-the-Tee’ and 9th in ‘SG: Putting’.
Will McIlroy Stick With His New Irons?
As McIlroy prepares for the start of the 2026 season at the Dubai Invitational in less than two weeks, the golf world awaits to see what he will carry in his bag. Will he adopt a full set of TaylorMade P7 CB? Will there be a combination with the Rors Proto? Or will he introduce an entirely different setup?
While it may seem odd for McIlroy to change irons after the best season of his life, a closer examination reveals that such decisions are common among top players striving to maintain their elite status.
