Rory McIlroy was forced to switch to a new driver ahead of the PGA Championship last month, and it appears the new equipment is working just fine for him.
McIlroy absolutely crushed a drive during the first round of the U.S. Open on Thursday at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pa. The tee shot, which came on the 12th hole, went nearly 400 yards.
McIlroy landed the ball in a perfect spot on the fairway and watched it run out at least another 50-75 yards:
That one nearly made it to the crosswalk! 💪
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 12, 2025
A 392-yard blast with a turbo kick for Rory on 12. pic.twitter.com/8BUM3Vreww
McIlroy is one of the best drivers in the world when he is on his game, and he has hit a handful of 400-plus-yard drives in the past. We will likely see more drives like his 392-bomb throughout the U.S. Open, as conditions at Oakmont are expected to be extremely fast.
Prior to the PGA Championship last month, the USGA determined that McIlroy was using a driver that was considered non-conforming, which is not uncommon. The same thing happened with another top player.
McIlroy, who won the Masters to complete the career grand slam earlier this year, was one of the favorites entering the U.S. Open. While monster drives will certainly help, it is the rough at Oakmont that has been the big story.
