CHARLOTTE — Rory McIlroy left the PGA Championship without a single word to the media on Sunday, leaving the golf world none the wiser as to the details of the reported failure of his driver to pass a conforming test earlier in the week.
It was the first time veteran British and Irish reporters could remember McIlroy remaining silent after all four rounds at a tournament.
His body language did the talking as he trudged with apparent frustration around undulating Quail Hollow en route to a 1-over-par 72 on a sparkling, sun-splashed late morning and early afternoon.
McIlroy departed the premises within minutes of signing for a 3-over 287 total, stopping only for a few quick words in the parking lot with his regular European Ryder Cup teammate Jon Rahm, who had yet to begin the final round.
It was a far cry from the emotional scenes only five weeks ago when McIlroy secured the career grand slam by winning the Masters at Augusta National.
SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio first reported on Friday that McIlroy had been forced to switch to a different driver after his favorite TaylorMade weapon was deemed non-conforming in a test conducted on Tuesday.
The U.S. Golf Association routinely tests driver heads randomly at PGA Tour events and major championships to determine whether their spring-like effect is conforming.
Spring-like effect refers to the elasticity of the clubface which allows it to spring back upon impact with the ball, much like a trampoline.
A driver that is conforming one week could be non-conforming the next, due to minute changes in the clubface as a result of the wear and tear of hitting balls.
McIlroy teed off at 9:50 a.m. on Sunday but never got out of first gear despite constant encouragement from the large galleries.
After hooking his drive into a water hazard left of the green at the short par-four 14th, he took a penalty stroke, pitched up to five feet and missed the par putt.
He walked wearily up the hill to the adjacent 15th tee, where a privileged group of spectators in a VIP stand only a few feet from the tee eagerly awaited the arrival of golf royalty.
McIlroy was about to step over the ball for his drive when a westerly crosswind suddenly strengthened, causing the five flags fluttering atop the hospitality tent to stiffen.
The Northern Irishman stepped away, waited a few seconds and then took his stance again before sending a booming drive down the middle of the fairway. He removed an energy bar from his bag and, suitably buoyed, proceeded to birdie the hole.
Cries of “Rory” and “Go Rory” prompted McIlroy to perfunctorily raise his right arm to waist height in acknowledgment as he left the green, but that was the last thing his fans had to cheer about, as he sprayed his drive right at the 16th, and later bogeyed the 17th to cap off a week he would no doubt like to put behind him very quickly.
–Andrew Both, Field Level Media
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