“Gave me just a little bit of flexibility” - Rory McIlroy explains how he can use Titleist Wedges despite TaylorMade deal

World No.1 Rory McIlroy has a sponsorship deal with TaylorMade. However, the golfer has now revealed the new ’flexibility' in his equipment deal that allowed him to use Titleist wedges in his Dubai Desert Classic victory.

The Irish golfer carried a couple of Vokeys in his bag in Dubai. The golfer said that he took the wedges after "messing around" with some of Justin Thomas' wedges at home. Is that okay with McIlroy’s sponsors, though? Apparently, it is and he explained how.

Speaking ahead of the 2023 WM Phoenix Open, Rory McIlroy said:

"Yeah, so this is my first year of my new deal with TaylorMade, and they gave me just a little bit of flexibility with some of the clubs that I can play.”

The ace golfer went on to explain how he got on to the new wedges.

He added:

"Yeah, so that was really it. I was messing around with Justin, I see Justin Thomas all the time at home and messing around with some of his wedges and some of the grinds he has. I got in touch and ordered a couple, and they've worked really nicely."

It is pertinent to note that McIlroy has made more changes to his equipment this week. The Irishman has added TaylorMade 760 3-and-4-irons for the event, as it allows him more height.

McIlroy added:

"This week, as well, I feel by going back to that 760 long iron in the 3- and the 4-iron, just to give me a bit more extra flight into the par-5s. I feel like sometimes with the 3- and the 4-iron in the blades they can come in a little flat at times, where the par-5 and the second shots into the par-5s specifically this week are very, very important, so I thought having a little bit more flight on those long irons could be helpful."

It is also noteworthy that the Dubai Desert Classic wasn’t the first time McIlroy used Titleist Vokey wedges. The ace golfer first used the wedges out on tour in early 2017. He brought out the irons while he was an equipment-free agent. The golfer had dropped from Nike’s deal and was exploring various options.

The World No.1 went on to sign a deal with TaylorMade in May of that year for a reported sum of $100m.

---

Rory McIlroy’s bag at the 2023 Hero Dubai Desert Classic

Driver: TaylorMade Stealth Plus (Fujikura Ventus Black 6X shaft), 9 degrees

3-wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus (Fujikura Ventus Black 8X shaft), 15 degrees

5-wood: TaylorMade Stealth Plus (Fujikura Ventus Black 9X shaft), 19 degrees

Irons: TaylorMade Rors Proto (3-PW; Project X 7.0 shafts)

Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM9 (54 S-Grind bent to 55° and 58 proto K-grind, bent to 59°; Project X 6.5 shafts)

Putter: TaylorMade Spider Hydro Blast (SuperStroke Traxion Pistol GT Tour grip)

Ball: TaylorMade TP5x

Grips: Golf Pride New Decade MultiCompound