Rory McIlroy’s Driver Woes Spark Concern After Shocking RBC Canadian Open Exit Before U.S. Open

Rory McIlroy, one of golf's biggest names, is facing a storm of concern as he heads into the upcoming U.S. Open. After a shocking performance at the RBC Canadian Open, where he missed the cut by a staggering 12 strokes with an 8-over 78—his second-highest PGA Tour score ever—questions are swirling around his game, particularly his new driver.

McIlroy’s round in Toronto was a rollercoaster of mishaps, featuring a quadruple bogey, a double bogey, and four bogeys, with only two birdies to soften the blow. "You don’t want to shoot high scores like the one I did today," he admitted, reflecting on a performance that echoed his struggles at The Open in 2024, where he also carded a 78. The root of the issue? A new driver that was supposed to solve his tee troubles but instead left him scrambling.

This isn’t the first time McIlroy’s driver has stolen headlines. Last month at the PGA Championship, a leak about his nonconforming driver—deemed unusable after pre-tournament testing—sparked frustration. While another top player faced a similar issue, McIlroy’s name was the one splashed across the news, leading him to skip media sessions entirely during that event. "I was a little upset because it was supposed to stay confidential," he noted before this week’s tournament, clearly still stung by the incident.

Statistically, McIlroy remains a titan off the tee, ranking first in strokes gained and third in driving distance with a booming average of 319.3 yards. Yet, his accuracy—hitting the fairway just 51.13% of the time—places him at a dismal 170th on tour. With the punishing rough at Oakmont Country Club awaiting at the U.S. Open, precision will be non-negotiable.

For now, missing the cut in Canada offers McIlroy a silver lining: a few extra days to fine-tune his driver and iron out the kinks. Golf fans everywhere will be watching to see if he can swing back into form when the U.S. Open tees off.