Could Rory McIlroy have starred in an era of Persimmon drivers? He thinks so

USA Today

09-07-2025

'I could have played in any era.' @McIlroyRory was gifted a persimmon club to commemorate his career Grand Slam. pic.twitter.com/bT9OQAbYHB
Rory McIlroy says he could've played in any era.
That was his verdict after swinging a Persimmon driver like they did in the days of Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus.
McIlroy made this assessment on Tuesday while practicing on the range at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick, Scotland, ahead of this week's Genesis Scottish Open, a co-sanctioned event between the PGA Tour and DP World Tour.
The DP World Tour and PGA Tour both posted video of McIlroy being gifted the custom-made club by John E. Morgan, a former touring pro and Sky Sports commentator, who is a part-owner of a persimmon golf club company. Metal drivers, which are more forgiving, gained popularity in the 1980s and made wooden ones obsolete. [Bernhard Langer is believed to be the last player to win a major with a persimmon driver at the 1993 Masters.]
Asked in a press conference on Wednesday if he'd given any thought to how his game would have translated to playing in the 1960s and '70s, McIlroy said, 'I'd like to think of myself more as an artist than a scientist when it comes to the game. But I think in this generation, at this point with TrackMan and biomechanics and all the technological advances, I think – again, I think my perception of myself is as an artist. But I think with the way the game has went over the last 20 years, we are probably are more scientists than we are artists.
'I'd like to think that I have the game or adaptability to do well in that era with that equipment.'
Morgan said the persimmon driver was made to commemorate McIlroy's career Grand Slam, which he achieved at the Masters in April.
'We've given you, obviously, the colors of your flag,' Morgan said, referencing the face of the club, 'and a little bit of green on there. C'mon, man, you had to do that.'
'Green topline, good man,' McIlroy replied.
McIlroy couldn't resist giving it a try.
'Oh mate! That is absolutely smoked,' Morgan said of the blast from the wooden club face.McIlroy glanced back to the camera and joked, 'I could have played in any era.' Laughter ensued.
As his first swing with his new old-school driver suggests, we're confident that McIlroy, the best driver of the ball of his day, would have adjusted and figured out how to make persimmon work just fine.