Rory McIlroy has been forced to switch drivers at the PGA Championship after his primary club failed a random equipment test.
The Northern Irishman's TaylorMade Qi10 was deemed 'non-conforming' by USGA officials during testing on Tuesday, requiring him to use his backup driver for the tournament at Quail Hollow.
Despite being a four-time champion at Quail Hollow, McIlroy has struggled significantly in this year's PGA Championship.
He barely made the cut on the number, finishing at +1 after the first two rounds. This uncharacteristic performance has left the reigning Masters champion fighting to stay in contention at a course where he has previously enjoyed tremendous success.
Rory McIlroy has been forced to switch drivers at the PGA Championship after his primary club failed a random equipment test
GETTY/REUTERS
McIlroy shot 74 on day one and followed with a 69 on day two, leaving him nine shots behind tournament leader Jhonattan Vegas heading into the weekend.
His biggest problem has stemmed from what is typically considered his greatest strength - his driving.
He is currently tied for last in driving accuracy among the 74 players who made the cut, hitting just 10 fairways across the first two rounds.
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Rory McIlroy has struggled during the PGA Championship so far
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This dramatic decline in performance with his backup driver has significantly hampered his ability to score, with his hopes of glory faltering as a result.
Former PGA Tour pro Johnson Wagner suggested McIlroy might have been the victim of wear and tear on his driver face.
"When you are a player like Rory McIlroy, who hits the ball as hard as he does, the face naturally thins out," Wagner explained.
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"The USGA conducts these tests pretty much every year out here... drivers fail all the time. Every single week, someone's driver fails."
Reigning PGA champion Xander Schauffele has previously criticised the process of random equipment testing after his driver was removed before the 2019 Open Championship.
"What's the fair thing to do? Just test the whole field. It's plain and simple," Schauffele said at the time.
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"When I talked to them, they didn't really know how to... you can't really answer that question."
McIlroy's back-up driver nearly ended his tournament on Friday with a dramatic finish to his second round.
The world No 2 hooked his drive at the difficult 18th hole and was only saved from missing the cut after getting a fortunate bounce off a hospitality tent. He managed to salvage a bogey on the hole to secure his weekend place.
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gettyDespite the setback, McIlroy can take solace from his first victory at Quail Hollow, where he also made the cut on the number at +1 and entered the weekend nine shots behind leader Billy Mayfair.
This historical parallel might provide the Northern Irishman with confidence that he can still mount a comeback despite his driver difficulties.
