Rory McIlroy completed his second straight Masters with a full bag of TaylorMade clubs.
Hector Vivas/Getty Images and Johnny Wunder/GOLF
Rory McIlroy will be keeping the Green Jacket for another year after a rollercoaster weekend that ended with his second straight Masters title.
Once again, McIlroy used a full bag of TaylorMade gear to get the job done at Augusta National.
One major change was his driver as McIlroy switched to TaylorMade’s latest model, the Qi4D, late last fall. McIlroy called it the easiest driver switch of his career, and that sentiment was echoed by his fitter, TaylorMade Tour Rep Adrian Rietveld, earlier this week.
“I’ll never forget the testing day with this,” Rietveld told GOLF. “People always ask who is the best you’ve worked with or what’s the best session. That was without a doubt the best driver session I’ve seen in 15 years of doing this stuff.”
McIlroy regularly touches 190 mph ball speed with the driver, which is shafted with a Fujikura Ventus Black 6-X, marking the fifth straight major victory for a Fujikura driver shaft and the Ventus Black profile.
McIlroy plays a low lofted height with the heavy weights in the rear position to improve forgiveness while still being able to launch the ball high. But his driver also features a tour-only bright grey face to help Rory see the loft better. He uses a 9-degree head turned down to 8 degrees to open the face angle, a common preference among players who prefer a draw.
The now-six-time major winner struggled with his driver swing for much of the week, but found something in the final round with clutch bombs on Nos. 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 and 17. His 350-yard tee shot on No. 13 left him just 183 yards into the par-5, setting up his final birdie of the week that ultimately proved the difference in the one-stroke victory.
While he has used a matching Qi4D 3-wood since November, McIlroy switched back to his longtime Qi10 gamer this week. With the victory, it now means the winners of the last five majors have used a Qi10 3-wood and the last three Masters.
Rory McIlroy switched back to his Qi10 3-wood this week which means the winner of the last five major champions has used the Qi10 3-wood.
Six overall when you add in Scottie's 2024 Masters victory.
McIlroy did dabble with changing irons earlier this year, but he ultimately went back to his RORS PROTO blades by his PGA Tour season debut at Pebble Beach, which he has used since signing with TaylorMade in 2017.
“We messed around with the CBs a little bit at the beginning of the year,” Rietveld said. “But he’s played these forever. They have a nice short blade length so he can turn them over when he needs to. They hold the spin beautifully.”
At the end of last season, he switched to TaylorMade’s latest wedge platform, the MG5, but kept essentially the same setup as he had before with his previous MG4s. That means continuing to play the LB lob wedge, bent 1 degree weak to 61 degrees.
“This guy had the most underrated short game in the world,” Rietveld said of McIlroy. “And going through finding him a 60 that works for him was a great experience. We’re at 61 loft on this because he creates so much speed at the bottom that that little bit of loft helps that ball come out a little bit more softly and he can be a little more natural with the shot.”
McIlroy is now the sixth player in the 14 events this season to win using a TaylorMade Spider putter. This comes one year after the putter model won three majors and was the winningest on the PGA Tour.
He has used multiple putters over his nearly 19-year professional career, but finally settled on his on the Spider Tour X in late 2022 and has used a custom torched finish version since late 2024. He had used similar models in years before, but his current model has had the most staying power.
“He’s always loved True Path. He’s always loved the long [sightline],” Rietveld said before pointing out the putter’s 80/20 Surlyn/Aluminum Pure Roll insert. “This is the unsung hero of this Spider momentum.
“When you talk about the roll of the Pure Roll and what this does for players out here, on fast greens, just making sure those misses give you a little bit more roll out, a little bit more distance control.”
Lastly, McIlroy did make his second ball change in as many years, moving from the previous-generation TaylorMade TP5 to the updated 2026 model at the start of the year.
“With the microcoating, he’s seeing much more consistent spin rates,” Rietveld said. “For a player of his standard, that’s a big deal.”
Keep reading below for all of McIlroy’s detailed WITB specs.
Rory McIlroy’s winning WITB at the 2026 Masters
Johnny Wunder/GOLF
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D FCT Sleeve: Two clicks lower (1.5˚ sleeve) Actual Loft: 8˚ Face: Grey with fiducials and topline Front weights: 4g toe, 4g heel Back weights: 11g toe, 11g heel Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6-X Length: 45.75″ EOG Tipping: 1″ Swingweight: D5
SHAPED FOR SPEED
The re-engineered head profile increases ball speed thanks to improved aerodynamics developed through advanced simulations.
FACE FOR DISTANCE
60x Carbon Twist Face™ is a technological cornerstone that provides weight savings, incredible ball speed and more consistency vs. a titanium face.
ADJUSTABLE PERFORMANCE
4° loft sleeve can be used to adjust loft, lie and face angle for optimized flight.
TOUR PROVEN TECHNOLOGIES
New and improved cut-through Speed Pocket™ protects ball speed and reduces spin on low-face strikes.
Advanced CAD modeling creates a design with a clean and powerful sound, a foundation of TaylorMade driver performance.
Multi-Material Construction allows engineers to strategically place mass in areas of the head where it maximizes performance, speed, and stability.
The Fujikura Ventus Black utilizes a Tour-inspired profile and the first to include Fujikura’s VeloCore Technology in an accelerated taper, ultra stiff tip profile. Maximum energy transfer from the tip section boosts the clubhead’s performance and a straight taper design enhances loading and feel. You can purchase the Fujikura Ventus Black in the following models: 6, 7, and 8. You can buy the Fujikura Ventus Black with the adaptor sleeve of choice built to your requires specifications.
JOCKEY TIP: The Fujikura Ventus Black is ideal for the player looking for a low launch, low spin shaft that was designed to significantly tighten shot dispersion and maximize ball speed especially on off-center shots.
PROVEN RECIPE
TaylorMade Fairways have dominated on Tour for over a decade because of their unique performance recipe, which enables maximum distance and versatility.
The Qi4D fairway is designed for golfers who want the most advanced technology while still prioritizing versatility and control with amazing distance.
ADJUSTABLE PERFORMANCE
Utilizing a single Trajectory Adjustment System weight (8g x1) provides the golfer a more mass efficient way to adjust flight, spin and swing weight.
4° loft sleeve can be used to adjust loft, lie and face angle for optimized flight and is available in all lofts.
REFINED ATTRIBUTES, BIG CHANGES
Engineers conducted an objective analysis of all the performance attributes and discovered new methods to enhance performance and confidence.
Sit points, lie angles, address views, and center of gravity locations were all updated based on Tour feedback and the expertise of leading fitters worldwide, ensuring the optimal fairway across skill levels.
TOUR-PROVEN TECHNOLOGIES
New and improved cut-through Speed Pocket™ protects ball speed and reduces spin on low-face strikes.
Advanced CAD modeling creates a design with a clean and powerful sound, a foundation for TaylorMade fairway performance.
Twist Face™ features corrective face curvature designed to provide straighter shots on mishits.
Multi-Material Construction allows engineers to maximize performance by increasing discretionary weight.
TOUR-INSPIRED SHAPING
Direct input from Tour inspired the new shape of P•7MB, crafted for ultimate workability. The new design uses a shorter blade length, narrower sole width, and progressive offset design.
FACETED MUSCLE BACK GEOMETRY
A seamless blend of traditional muscle back iron performance with a contemporary look and design. The updated back bar now uses symmetrical geometry to create a timeless look both in the playing position and in the bag.
COMPACT GRAIN FORGING
1025 carbon steel is 5X forged using a 2,000-ton press engineered to produce a tighter, more compact grain structure with fewer defects. It is designed to provide the most solid, consistent feel possible.
MACHINED FACE & GROOVES
Precision is paramount. Machining the face ensures precision and quality with our mostaggressive MX9 score line geometry for exacting shot making.
FORGED FEEL
Incredible feel is a must for having a great wedge game. MG5 has been forged from soft carbon steel and designed with geometry to provide excellent feel with great feedback.
MAXIMUM SPIN
MG5 uses all-new, more aggressive grooves designed to maximize spin. Saw-milled grooves produce tighter tolerances allowing engineers to design steeper walls and sharper radii intended to maximize spin in both dry and damp conditions.
PERFORMANCE IN ALL CONDITIONS
RAW face with Spin Tread technology channels away moisture to help retain spin. The same way that tire treads help your car stay connected to the road, laser-etched channels redirect water at impact and creates more friction between the club face and golf ball to maintain spin in wet conditions.
CRAFTSMANSHIP MEETS CONSISTENCY
Crafted by hand and then milled to perfection. Each wedge and sole grind are precision-milled to eliminate the natural human error that comes with hand polishing. Our grinds deliver unmatched consistency and craftsmanship that players can count on every time.
CHARCOAL FINISH
MG5 debuts a sleek, sophisticated charcoal finish that reduces glare and enhances its aesthetic appeal in the bag.
Putter: Spider Tour X Loft: 2.5˚ Lie: 69˚ Length: 34 1/2″ EOG Finish: Torched Hosel: Short Slant Sightline: Full Line Insert: Pure Roll 80/20 Shaft: Black Stepless Swingweight: E0 Grip: SuperStroke Synergy Pistol
THIN WALL UNDERCUT CONSTRUCTION
We’ve engineered a super stable structure by removing excess weight to create high MOI and legendary Spider performance.
STEEL WIREFRAME
Allows engineers to better control weight distribution and CG location.
HYBRAR ECHO® DAMPENER
HYBRAR is behind the face to dampen unwanted vibrations, delivering premium sound and feel on every putt with the best possible sensation.
DIFFERENT CG LOCATION
Each Spider Tour model features different CG locations for optimal putter fitting.
TSS WEIGHTING
TSS weights provide balanced weighting and help optimize performance for all various putter lengths.
GUNMETAL PVD FINISH
The durable PVD coating creates a beautiful high-quality finish.
TRUE PATH™ ALIGNMENT
The patented alignment system provides visual clarity and helps golfers better envision the line to the hole.
WHITE TPU PURE ROLL™ INSERT
Made from a combination of Surlyn and aluminum, the white TPU Pure Roll™ insert creates a softer feel. Grooves are angled at 45° to encourage optimal forward roll as well as better sound, feel and overall roll characteristics. The white insert also creates better symmetry with the white True Path alignment.
REFINED HOSEL DESIGNS
Spider Tour Series includes two different hosel shapes and designs. The small slant produces toe hang, and the double bend produces a face balanced design.
The best players in the world, like 2025 champion in Augusta and career Grand Slam winner Rory McIlroy and Collin Morikawa have already made the switch to the fastest ever TP5. It’s time for you to make the switch, too.
Microcoating
No two golf balls are the same, but the all-new TP5 sets out to solve an invisible problem through our revolutionary microcoating finish process. Uneven paint and excess pooling in the dimples can compromise distance and accuracy. Microcoating uses precision application technology to ensure uniform coverage across the ball’s entire surface. Click on the video for a deep dive.
Thinner Than a Human Hair
Microcoating is thinner than a human hair and delivers measurable performance advantages: more consistent ball flight, optimized distance, and tight left-to-right dispersion.
The Fastest TP5 Ever
TP5 has long been our softest five-layer Tour ball, but now it’s faster than ever. Employing our largest Tour core to date, the TP5 retains more energy at impact, which results in faster ball speeds and more distance at the top of your bag.
Tour Flight
The reengineered Tour Flight Dimple Pattern features new dimples that when combined with microcoating, promote a more predictable, penetrating ball flight with optimized peak height performance and increased accuracy.
The MCC™ (New Decade® MultiCompound) is an innovative hybrid grip that fuses the positive performance of rubber and cord. The MCC boasts the Golf Pride® exclusive Brushed Cotton Cord in the upper hand area for firm all-weather control, and a performance rubber material in the lower hand for ultimate feel and responsiveness.
Jack Hirsh is the Associate Equipment Editor at GOLF. A Pennsylvania native, Jack is a 2020 graduate of Penn State University, earning degrees in broadcast journalism and political science. He was captain of his high school golf team and recently returned to the program to serve as head coach. Jack also still *tries* to remain competitive in local amateurs. Before joining GOLF, Jack spent two years working at a TV station in Bend, Oregon, primarily as a Multimedia Journalist/reporter, but also producing, anchoring and even presenting the weather. He can be reached at jack.hirsh@golf.com.
