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Rory McIlroy is making a few changes to his arsenal as he eyes the upcoming Masters tournament. The PGA star has a new putter and shortened driver in hopes of improving his game.
McIlroy was seen using the new clubs in a recent session at the Austin Country Club, and he appears to be enjoying them. Here’s what he had to say about the equipment adjustment.
“I mean, obviously this part of the season you’ve got one eye on what you’re doing now and one eye on Augusta.”
His new driver boasts a slightly shorter shaft (44 in) which will hopefully allow for more spin. He was seen teeing off with the TaylorMade driver at this week’s WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play.
While that driver will allow for more comfort off the box, maybe the most interesting change comes on the green. Not only is he adjusting his pre-shot routine, but he’s going back to a familiar friend in the golf bag.
His new putter, a Scotty Cameron Newport GSS, is eerily similar to the putter used in his 2011 US Open and 2012 PGA Championship wins. Rory McIlroy is hoping to “rekindle an old flame” with the switch, according to Golf.com’s Jonathan Wall.
Rory McIlroy’s Scotty Cameron Newport GSS is a new putter — not one he’s used in the past. (The stamp is now on Rory, JT and Scottie’s putters, if you’re into that sort of minutiae.)
McIlroy noted the small differences between new and old, saying that the two are nearly identical. He’ll hope to have identical results in Augusta.
“It has a line on the top just on the top line instead of on the flange. So, yeah, it’s basically the same.”
If what he says is true, he could be on his way to another win at the Masters. He confirmed rumors about a particularly stellar round he had at Augusta National over the weekend.
McIlroy recorded an 18-hole round with just 19 putts, part of a 54-hole two-day outing. “Yeah, look, I had two good days,” the PGA star said in response to the performance. “I was really happy with where my game was,” he continued.
The Masters will start April 6th, and Rory McIlroy seems to be in championship form. We’ll see if the new equipment helps him land a Green Jacket.