Equipment
McIlroy using TaylorMade M2 driver at WGC-HSBC Champions
Update (10/27/16): The shafts in McIlroy’s M2 driver and fairway woods have been confirmed. McIlroy used TaylorMade’s M2 driver (9.5 degrees) and fairway woods (15 and 18 degrees) in Round 1 of the WGC-HSBC Champions.
Rory McIlroy is using a TaylorMade M2 driver at the WGC-HSBC Champions.
Photos of the golfer taken yesterday at Sheshan International Golf Club during his practice round confirm that McIlroy is swinging 9.5-degree head (set to lower) with a Mitsubishi Rayon Kuro Kage S TiNi 70X prototype shaft.
McIlroy was previously using Nike’s Vapor Fly Pro driver (9.5 degrees) with a Mitsubishi Rayon Diamana S+ 70 X-flex shaft at 45.5 inches.
Few more closeups of Rory McIlroy’s @TaylorMadeGolf M2 driver, fairway. Big ups to @PGATOURCochran for coming through in the clutch. ???? pic.twitter.com/0m6VuAEbDc
— Jonathan Wall (@jonathanrwall) October 26, 2016
Noticed Rory is using MRC’s Kuro Kage in his TaylorMade M2 fairway instead of Fujikura’s Rombax Pro 95X. Pretty significant change. pic.twitter.com/eW98qWk9HX
— Jonathan Wall (@jonathanrwall) October 26, 2016
Photos from PGATOUR.com’s Jonathan Wall (via @PGATourCochran) also confirm that Rory has two TaylorMade M2 fairway woods (15, 18 degrees) in the bag this week in Shanghai. The shafts are MRC’s Kuro Kage S TiNi 80X prototypes. McIlroy had previously used Fujikura’s Rombax Pro 95X shaft in his 15-degree Nike Vapor Speed fairway wood.
McIlroy’s other clubs (Nike VR Pro Blade irons, Nike Engage wedges and Scotty Cameron M1 prototype putter) appear to be the same. He is, however, wearing a new pair of Nike golf shoes in China this week.
Related
This week, we have our Tour Photographer, Greg Moore, on the ground at the OccuNet Classic at Tascosa Golf Club in Amarillo, Texas, for the 14th event of the 2026 Korn Ferry Tour season. With that, we see some great things in the Lead Tape Report as we roll into Amarillo.
Joel Thelen
Monday Qualifier, Joel Thelen is in the field this week. He has played on the Korn Ferry Tour for a full season in 2023, and he is back in action this week. A couple of clubs caught my eye this week in his bag.
First off: His trusted Titleist 816 H2 hybrid. This club came out in October of 2015, and it still remains strong in the bag. Also, take a look at this Odyssey White Hot OG 7, putting a capital S in the 7S model. This custom neck has some impressive lean for an arm-lock-style putter. The bottom of the putter is covered in tape for optimal weighting.
Mitchell Meissner
Taking a look at Mitchell Meissner’s bag this week, we have some great lead tape coverage. Top to bottom working from fairway metals, irons, and wedges. We can see on the short irons and wedges that there is tape at the base of the grip, adding a little counterbalance. Along with that, some tape on the short irons and wedges as well. Moving to his putter, he rolls the Odyssey 7 Bird putter. Meissner putts left-handed and strikes the ball right-handed.
Bud Cauley had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament.
Driver: Titleist GTS2 (8 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: Titleist GTS3 (15 degrees, B1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei 1K Pro Red 70 TX
7-wood: Titleist GTS3 (21 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei 1K Pro Red 80 TX
Irons: Titleist U505 (3), Titleist 620 MB (4-9)
Shafts: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 8 X, True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 (48-10F, 52-12F, 56-14F), WedgeWorks (60-K*)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putters: Scotty Cameron Tour Prototype, Scotty Cameron GOLO 6.3 Prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Align
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
In our forums, one user has offered up a prompt for the true sickos, inviting fellow forum members to share every set of irons they’ve ever owned. As to be expected, this is a lengthy forum topic.
@Lamosteve began:
Can you name every set of irons you’ve owned? Here’s mine
Spalding Dots
Spalding Eclipse
Ram Lazer FX
Lynx Parallax
Mizuno EZ Comp
Ben Hogans
Cleveland CG Red
Taylor Made R9s
PING i20
PING iE1
Taylor Made M6
Our members in the forum have been offering up their own collections. Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- macedan: “Started with a hand-me-down Golden Bear set from my brother when I was in high school, never really played more than once a year or got into the game until about summer of 2017. First purchased a set of Cleveland CG4’s (I actually really miss this set sometimes, soft & not terribly large for a GI iron), moved into Nike Vapor Fly’s by the end of the year. Those lasted until spring of 18 when I decided I wanted new, so I traded them in for TM Rbladez. Honestly, although I liked the Rbladez, poor decision on my part, I think this was really about the only time so far that after a week or two I was kicking myself for not staying with what I had. Rbladez stayed with me until late last summer when I switched to P790’s and (knock on wood) I am hoping this will be my longest lasting set.”
- JimmyC59: “MacGregor Jack Nicklaus Triple Crown. Palmer The Standard. Still play these.”
- jgrzask: “Tommy Armour 845u
Mizuno MP-32
Mizuno MP-33 (2 sets)
Bridgestone J33cb – still own
Srixon i-302 (2 sets) – still own
Tourstage X-Blades – still own
Mizuno Hot Metal – still own
Nike Forged Blades – still own
Titleist 714 AP1 – still own
Cobra Forged SS – still own”
Justin Rose WITB 2026 (April): Full WITB breakdown with new McLaren irons
What’s the story behind Webb Simpson’s custom-stamped irons?
Memorial Tournament Tour Report: Rory McIlroy, Cameron Young switch up drivers, and more
Cadillac Championship Tour Report: Spieth’s sizable changes, McLaren Golf launches, and more
Russell Henley’s winning WITB: 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
Kristoffer Reitan’s winning WITB: 2026 Truist Championship
Aaron Rai’s winning WITB: 2026 PGA Championship
J.T. Poston’s winning WITB: 2026 Memorial Tournament
Cameron Young’s winning WITB: 2026 Cadillac Championship
Best irons 2026: Best irons overall, most forgiving irons, and more
Bud Cauley WITB 2026 (June)
Bud Cauley had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament. Driver: Titleist GTS2 (8 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura...
Hannah Green WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Titleist GTS3 (10 degrees, D4 SureFit setting) Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Diamana RB 53 S 3-wood: Titleist GT3 (15 degrees,...
Asterisk Talley WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (9 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 6 S 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (16.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue...
Brianna Do WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (9 degrees) Shaft: KBS PGW 3-wood: Callaway Elyte Titanium (15 degrees) Shaft: KBS PGW 5-wood:...
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bar
Oct 29, 2016 at 5:40 pm
Is he hitting any more greens or sinking any more putts?. Amazing the priority people put on hitting the ball 340 instead of 320 and then leaving a wedge 40 ft from the hole. I played in front of him in the West of Ireland a good few years ago and his short game (from150 – 80 yds ) was frightening.
JOL
Oct 27, 2016 at 6:08 pm
I was watching the coverage of this tournament on the Golf Channel and heard one of the announcers say that Rory had picked up 6 mph in ball speed with the new driver! I don’t know if this is accurate, but if true that is a huge gain for a pro who you would think had access to the best fitters and equipment. BTW, he was at least 20 yards farther than Bubba on this particular hole I watched.
B Hock
Oct 27, 2016 at 10:54 am
So I see what he shot but does anyone have any insight on how he actually drove the ball?
Jon
Oct 27, 2016 at 11:51 am
http://www.thenational.ae/sport/golf/watch-rory-mcilroy-adopts-taylor-made-driver-sends-ball-flying-in-shanghai
KK
Oct 27, 2016 at 8:11 pm
I believe he smoked his previous numbers with Nike drivers. Imagine if Tiger never signed with Nike. He might have 20+ majors by now and be king of the sports world instead of a washed-up golfer who doesn’t even have the confidence to play a PGA event.
H
Oct 28, 2016 at 3:20 am
Eldrick’s failures have nothing to do with the equipment, it was all to do with his incessant chasing of nasty women he couldn’t keep his pants zipped
Tal
Oct 27, 2016 at 6:17 am
TM drivers are great! The irons don’t feel good in my opinion but I have an M2 and it’s a great feeling and performing club. I don’t think he’s compromising at all by having it in the bag. I’ll be interested to see his iron selection though.
Tony Rich
Oct 26, 2016 at 11:07 pm
He better hope he hits it more like DJ and not like Day.
TM’s are well known for the duck hook, so is Rory. Should be interesting.
Launch monitor
Oct 27, 2016 at 8:42 am
“TM well known for duck hooks”?
Get real. That’s a swing error nothing to do with the club
Tony Rich
Oct 27, 2016 at 9:58 am
Launch monitor, you must have never owned a low MOI Taylor Made. Everyone who has been on Wrx knows their low spinning heads have no forgiveness. Hence the dreaded heel/toe hook.
It’s a most common thread. Buy a SLDR, R15, M1 to experience the hooks yourself. Hopefully Rory doesn’t do the same. Otherwise a Vapor or 917 await.
Tony is Poor
Oct 27, 2016 at 12:14 pm
Yeah that’s why he’s using the M2, with the weight at the back of the head for slightly higher MOI than the M1 or SLDR, and, it has a more open face than those others. You know nothing.
Tony Rich
Oct 28, 2016 at 1:12 am
The M2 is the same as the RBZ or r580XD….Taylor Made will have 2 more driver launches by January, and Rory will be playing the M4….this will a be a mute point.
H
Oct 28, 2016 at 3:25 am
You mean MOOT point. You American or summin? Don’t know English, eh?
Tony Rich
Oct 29, 2016 at 8:45 am
Mute point….as in silence from the Taylor Made bandwagon…how soon we forget the two majors Rory dominated, and his best year driving was in 2012, with a Titleist 913. BTW I’m Canadian, EH?
KK
Oct 27, 2016 at 8:13 pm
My SLDR has absolutely no forgiveness… for buds with when it’s time to pay up.
Jeff
Oct 26, 2016 at 6:56 pm
Didn’t he play the Kuro Cage back in his VR Covert Red driver he won majors with? Nike guys equipment choices are really compelling stories, it seems a unique insight into what really are maybe better performing clubs.
AJ
Oct 27, 2016 at 9:21 am
I can’t vouch for the validity of this info, but as I was trying a Kuro Kage shaft at the PGA show demo day a couple years ago, a Mitsubishi rep told me and my dad that Rors’ “Diamana” was just a paint job. From what we gathered, my best guess is that he’s been playing the Kuro Kage all along, but they just changed the paint because the Diamana was the stock offering for the Vapor drivers.
Like I said, I have no proof, but it’s an interesting thought.
Tourpro
Oct 26, 2016 at 6:29 pm
Why not the M1 when it is clearly the top model with most adjustability? Or is Rory’s M2 maybe a painted version of the M1 to better promote the cheaper M2 version? Doesn’t make any sense.
Tal
Oct 26, 2016 at 6:56 pm
The M1 isn’t the “top model”. It just has more adjustability. If you don’t want it or need it then the M2 is the best option. Lots of pros use the M2.
Maxwrx
Oct 26, 2016 at 6:02 pm
I suddenly have a hankering for a tour issue M2 head….
someone
Oct 26, 2016 at 2:43 pm
Maybe the shaft change was more due to swingweight and moi. If I remember correctly the M2 heads are slightly lighter than other 460cc heads. So having the heavier shaft with the lighter head might have removed some feeling. Just speculation though.
Shutupyoumelts
Oct 26, 2016 at 4:49 pm
How the f-ck would you know maybe that shaft gave him the right spin numbers and the best accuracy.
mhendon
Oct 26, 2016 at 5:47 pm
He clearly said it was just speculation at the end so quit being such a D-ck!
Someone
Oct 26, 2016 at 11:50 pm
Thank you mhendon.
Someone
Oct 26, 2016 at 11:50 pm
Well my speculation is based on the fact that this shaft is lighter than his last and the head is possibly lighter since the m2 overall is a lighter head than most 460cc. If he’s trying to keep the same feel as his last setup in order to kee the same tempo/rhythm it would make sense to Try and keep the same moi/swingweight. If that clears it up for you. But again as I stated that’s just my speculation based on the information that was presented. That’s all.
Launch monitor
Oct 27, 2016 at 8:47 am
Many times shafts models encorporate the shaft weight in the model, the truth is a 90X flex by any manufacturer, vs a 95X flex by a different manufacture could weigh the same. My own shaft is a 60 stiff and it weighs out a 68 grams.
Launch monitor
Oct 27, 2016 at 8:45 am
M2 head is a touch heavier, a couple of grams so there goes that theory.
someone
Oct 28, 2016 at 9:47 am
He’s using a tour head. it’s 10g lighter. the plus symbol near the hosel adjustment lets you know that it’s a tour head.
Kuro kage S tini 70 X flex – stock is 77grams but he’s playing a proto, so it could be different. might not be that far off however.
Diamana S+ 70 X flex – 72 grams
cwt
Oct 26, 2016 at 12:52 pm
Yikes! It’s telling that Rory has begun exploring so quickly after being released from his contract. If Nike had actually made a good golf club, Rory would want to get as much milage out of it as possible.
Even though there’s not much contract money at Mizuno, I’d like to see him at least try Mizuno irons. Hopefully Rory has learned that winning tournaments is more important to his legacy than lucrative contracts.
Jason
Oct 26, 2016 at 1:08 pm
Typical Mizuno and Apple fanboy. #sheeparmy
Brian
Oct 26, 2016 at 8:21 pm
Have you ever owned a Mizuno iron?
Lee
Oct 26, 2016 at 1:49 pm
Why would he change the Miura blades that work so well for him!
mhendon
Oct 26, 2016 at 5:50 pm
Yeah its a shame Nike made such inferior equipment, hell Rory might have won the Fedex cup otherwise!
Cris
Oct 26, 2016 at 9:51 pm
Lucrative contracts equals more available money. With enough money you can get your name on a hospital wing, museum, library, or university. That’s how you build a legacy.
mctrees02
Oct 27, 2016 at 7:52 am
It’s been almost 3 months since Nike axed their golf department. He didn’t exactly rush out the door looking for new clubs as evidenced by his Nike irons and wedges with which he’s won majors and now the FedEx Cup still being in the bag.
lifeHack
Oct 26, 2016 at 11:20 am
This is probably the first step to purchase Taylormade together with Tiger. Combined with the star power of Johnson and Day TM will be the death star of golf equipment. If they make good clubs probably everybody will be playing TM within 2 to 3 years. That will make golf great again!
Neil Cameron
Oct 26, 2016 at 11:36 am
possible for sure
maybe Johnston and Day part of the deal also.
Cazzo
Oct 26, 2016 at 12:12 pm
Never heard of Johnston. Who is that? lol
SB
Oct 26, 2016 at 12:49 pm
BEEEEEEEEEFFFFFFFFF !!!!
Par4
Oct 26, 2016 at 10:07 am
Not the freaking arrow, it’s the Indian…
Brian
Oct 26, 2016 at 11:09 am
Why didn’t the indian stick with the same old arrow then?
rolltherock
Oct 26, 2016 at 2:34 pm
Boom. Roasted.
NoDoubt Stout
Oct 27, 2016 at 1:47 pm
GOTHEEM
mhendon
Oct 26, 2016 at 5:44 pm
lol that was a good one!
Uhit
Oct 26, 2016 at 9:48 am
I guess he is using the Kuro Kage Silver TiNi 70 Flex-X…
…I also have this shaft and it looks the same.
The Truth
Oct 26, 2016 at 9:33 am
If he wins this week with the M2. The Taylormade fanboys will blow the roof off this place.
Rev G
Oct 26, 2016 at 8:25 am
He struggled so badly the last couple times he switched irons (espcially when he switch brands), I just don’t think he’s going to be switching those so quickly. Unless he’s offered gobs of money soon, I don’t see him switching until next year’s off season.
Shutupyoumelts
Oct 26, 2016 at 4:42 pm
It was the ball he stuggled with not the irons
The change from the pro v1x to the 20xi was the problematic change