Arnold Palmer Invitational

Sunday, March 9, 2025

Bay Hill, Florida, USA

Bay Hill Club and Lodge

Rory McIlroy

Quick Quotes


Q. How can you build on a week like this on a tough golf course going into next week, if at all?

RORY McILROY: Yeah, if at all, I don't know, it's just they're two completely different tests. You know, the rough isn't quite as thick next week. It's going to be quite a lot softer, so, yeah, it's -- they're not super similar, they're both in Florida, but that's about it. So, no, yeah, I think for -- it's really just sort of move on from this week and put in a good three days of work to get ready for next Thursday.

Q. Can you take us through the equipment changes.

RORY McILROY: Yeah, sort of going back to what I'm comfortable with. I tried new woods for the first three days, didn't quite work out the way I wanted it to. So, yeah, I went back to my old stuff today.

Q. All of your old stuff?

RORY McILROY: Yeah, driver, fairway wood, everything.

Q. Because you were struggling off the tee a little bit?

RORY McILROY: Yeah, I led strokes gained off the tee in both Pebble and Torrey, so it was a really good idea to change (laughing). Yeah, so -- and then, like yesterday, I lost strokes off the tee, which is the first time I've done that in a long time. Yeah, just went back to what was familiar and what's comfortable.

Q. Obviously here it's not a very easy place to score if you're not in the fairway.

RORY McILROY: Yeah, exactly. Yeah, I felt like I was just scrambling all weekend, just trying to save par and pick up the odd birdie here and there.

Q. Do you think you'll stick with the old driver at least through the Masters?

RORY McILROY: Yeah.

Q. Being a fan favorite like you are, atmosphere, ambiance out there this week, what was it like?

RORY McILROY: Yeah, it's been great. This is always a, it's always a good tournament, it's always got a good atmosphere, especially playing in the final few groups on the weekend, it's always been good to play in and, yeah, always a good turnout at this tournament and obviously everyone that plays appreciates that.

Q. Does next week determine where you might play after it between it and the Masters or have you decided?

RORY McILROY: Yeah, probably. I'll see how next week goes and then, yeah, just sort of see what I feel like and what I think I need. But, yeah, nice thing is I don't have to enter until the Friday before.

Q. Do you think you would go to Augusta prior to tournament week this year?

RORY McILROY: Yeah, I will. Yeah, I think it's just going to be a little bit different this year, just with there's some areas of the course that are maybe a little thinner tree-wise, just with the hurricane that rolled through. 16's a new green. So, yeah, I'll probably go up there once or twice beforehand.

Q. Did you do the wood changes, I think I read, because of the new ball, just the way it spun a little bit different?

RORY McILROY: Yeah, there was a little bit of that. Also just, you know, trying to get into the new stuff. There's pros and cons to it, and it's a blessing and a curse at the same time that we sort of have to go through these 12-month club cycles. But yeah, I just, I probably just didn't give myself enough time -- and it's totally different, you know, it can look good on the Trackman and it can look good on the range at home at the Bear's Club or on the golf course, but once you get out here in these conditions that's where it really shows itself and it just wasn't quite ready.

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
153325-1-1044 2025-03-09 21:14:00 GMT

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