WITB: Rory McIlroy Wins 2022 CJ Cup

The 2022 CJ Cup concluded with a clutch, champions-quality finish. But even with 4 others in a close battle, Rory McIlroy’s putter got hot again with three consecutive birdies. And, some critical bunker play helped him retain his lead despite finishing bogey-bogey. McIlroy defends his CJ Cup title in 2021; and this win moved him into the #5 spot in FEDEX Cup points and #1 in Golf’s World Rankings supplanting Scottie Scheffler. McIlroy commented in multiple interviews that “Everything sort of feels like it’s came together for me” after being “a wild six months” of working on his game.

With the help of PGA Tour, TaylorMade and Golf WRX, we examine McIlroy’s bag and subsequent changes from the last WITB at the RBC Classic in June 2022.

McIlroy’s Winning Equipment at the 2022 CJ Cup (highlighting changes).

• Top of the Bag. Driver: TaylorMade Stealth Plus 9 degrees turned down to 7.5 degrees with a Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X shaft. 3-wood: TaylorMade SIM2 Titanium 15 degrees with a Mitsubishi Kai’li White 80 TX shaft. 5-wood: TaylorMade Stealth Plus 19 degrees turned down to 17.5 degrees with a Fujikura Ventus Black 9 X shaft.
  Interestingly, Rory switched back to his TaylorMade Sim2 Titanium 3-wood from the TaylorMade Stealth 15 degree with the Fujikura Ventus Black 8X shaft used at the RBC. The two shafts – Fujikura Ventus Black 8X and the Kai’li White 80TX have a very similar profile. And the two clubs have similar designs. Sometimes, it just comes down to feel.
• Irons. TaylorMade Rors Proto 3-iron through 9-iron with the True Temper Project X 7.0 shafts.
  Notably, Rory switched out his Rors Proto Pitching Wedge for the MG3 Raw Pitching Wedge, equivalent at 46 degrees. This has been an interesting trend with more manufacturers offering lower lofted versions of their wedges. And, we’re seeing multiple tour and amateur players given the advancements in technology and higher spin rates from the wedge designs.
• Wedges: TaylorMade MG3 Raw 46, 54 and 58 degrees with the True Temper Project X 6.5 shafts.
  Also interesting was Rory’s swap of the 60 degree MG3 Raw wedge for the 58 degree wedge. Without overthinking it too much, it’s likely indicative of the different course conditions – namely the sandy base for the course and soft sand bunkers.
• Putter: TaylorMade Spider X Hydro Blast.