Rory McIlroy returns to blade irons ahead of Pebble Beach Pro-Am
Rory McIlroy has opted to return to his traditional blade irons as he gears up to defend his AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am crown this week, reports BritPanorama.
The Masters champion had experimented with cavity-back irons during his recent trip to Dubai but faced inconsistent performances. McIlroy finished third at the Dubai Invitational but slipped to a disappointing tied 33rd at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic.
Confirming he would not continue with the experimental equipment for his opening PGA Tour appearance of 2026, McIlroy labelled his blade irons as his “trusty” equipment. He expressed confidence that returning to these familiar clubs would bolster his ambitions for the season ahead.
At a press conference, he noted, “I had a strong finish to the season last year, played well in the Middle East, went on to Australia, which was a great experience, sort of messed around with some different iron set-ups and sort of messed around with like a different ball and a few equipment changes. That experiment is over, back to the trusty irons that I have played basically my whole career.”
McIlroy stated that he feels his game is in “good shape” following two weeks of practice at home. “I had two weeks in Dubai to sort of shake the rust off… I feel pretty good coming in here,” he explained. After claiming victory at Pebble Beach last year, he also won the Players Championship and completed the career Grand Slam with a play-off win at Augusta.
The 36-year-old hopes that a positive showing this weekend can provide him momentum for the challenges ahead. He remarked, “It was a perfect way to start the year here last year, hoping for something similar this week.”
The Pebble Beach Pro-Am features a limited field of 80 and is the PGA Tour’s first ‘Signature Event’ of the season. World number one Scottie Scheffler heads the field, while early FedExCup leader Chris Gotterup seeks to build on his play-off victory at the Phoenix Open. Justin Rose, fresh from winning the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in a record 23 under par, is also in contention.
Responding to whether the Players Championship should be recognised as a fifth major, McIlroy stated that while the tournament is “one of the best golf tournaments in the world,” he is a traditionalist regarding the number of major championships. “If you want to see what five major championships looks like, look at the women’s game. I don’t know how well that’s went for them,” he concluded.
As McIlroy returns to his roots with blade irons, it serves as a poignant reminder of the balancing act elite athletes face between tradition and innovation — a reflection of how even the most successful careers can pivot with subtle shifts in equipment.
