Injured Rory McIlroy confirms one final equipment tweak before 2025 Masters

Rory McIlroy has confirmed he tinkered with his driver yet again during the Texas Children's Houston Open. 

McIlroy finally put TaylorMade's latest driver and fairway woods into play at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill. 

But after two rounds with the Qi35 line, McIlroy decided he wanted to switch back to his old woods. 

The Northern Irishman even treated his old clubs to a $995 Uber ride by getting them delivered from his Florida mansion. 

The change paid off immediately, with McIlroy winning his second Players title at TPC Sawgrass over J.J. Spaun. 

And McIlroy's final PGA Tour event before the 2025 Masters saw him finish in the top-10 yet again.

He almost missed the cut last week but surged up the leaderboard on Saturday and Sunday. 

It looked as though he might trouble Min Woo Lee for the title but the Australian survived a late scare to win his first title on the North American circuit. 

McIlroy told reporters that he feels pretty good with where his game is at and he's pleased he's got a bit of time before heading to Georgia. 

He said his long-time coach, Michael Bannon, is flying in tomorrow for some last-minute prep. 

This time last year, McIlroy turned to Butch Harmon for some help after struggling with his irons. 

McIlroy told reporters on Sunday that he's also changed the loft on his driver. 

"I felt like it was getting a little bit spinny, especially if I wanted to hit cuts off the tee," he said. 

"So I took a little bit of loft off it. [It] definitely went through the wind better today and felt a little more comfortable."

Asked by one scribe to sum up what he likes best about his season so far, McIlroy said he was pleased with how he has been managing his misses. 

And he is liking his short game. 

"I've been able to scramble well when I've needed to," he said. "And my ability to sort of hit little knockdown shots.

"I feel like it's been quite a windy year, I feel like there's been quite a lot of wind when we've played, so my ability to hit those little three-quarter shots is definitely better than it has been and that's been a big factor to why I've performed pretty consistently."

The 2025 Masters begins on 10 April. 

McIlroy is the second favourite to win the green jacket behind reigning champion Scottie Scheffler.

He tied for 22nd at last year's Masters. He's also missed two of his past four cuts with a runner-up in 2022. 

McIlroy also told Golf Channel on Sunday that he has been having some pain in his right elbow. 

He said that he will be getting some treatment on that before heading to Augusta.