Rory McIlroy is dropping the driver from his bag! For the DP World India Championship in Delhi, the Northern Irishman is employing a radical strategy: precision over length, just like last year. This move is not only a statement to the competition but also a tribute to the tricky course that unforgivingly punishes every mistake.
The event runs from Thursday, October 15th to Sunday, October 18th, at the Delhi Golf Club. The 6,912-yard (6,320-meter), Par-72 Lodhi Course is infamous for its narrow fairways and treacherous roughs that swallow every offline ball. Here, accuracy counts more than pure power.
Rory's Calculation
McIlroy states clearly: "I'm here to win the tournament, not to hit a driver." He plans to use his 5-wood and 2-iron as his longest clubs, followed by a 3-iron down to the putter. The 5-wood for precise shots on selected par-5s and doglegs, the 2-iron for low, controlled alternatives.
Why this drastic step? While Rory leads the Strokes Gained: Driving Distance category on the DP World Tour, he ranks only 118th in Driving Accuracy. A clear trade-off that won't work in Delhi if he wants to claim the "Race to Dubai" crown.
Who Else Dares Go Without a Driver?
McIlroy is chasing his eighth title, which would set a new record. He currently trails Patrick Reed and Eugenio Chacarra – a win in Delhi could catapult him directly to the top. Besides Rory, three other Major champions and five LIV Golf players are competing.
Race to Dubai leader Patrick Reed will likely also leave his driver in the bag, though with his normal equipment setup, not as radically as Rory. The defending champion is Tommy Fleetwood.
In total, a hefty prize fund of 3.58 million Euros is at stake, with the winner taking home 605,000 Euros. That's quite an incentive to leave the power in the bag and rely on finesse!
