
PGA Tour Posts Persimmon Gift for Rory McIlroy amid Grand Slam
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
No matter what Rory McIlroy shoots or how he handles the media spotlight, one thing that remains untouchable is his career Grand Slam. It took 11 years for the Northern Irish man to finally break through.
A journey that also included the birth of his daughter Poppy, now 4 years old, and countless near-misses.
But in April 2025, McIlroy finally slipped on the green jacket at Augusta National, becoming just the sixth man in history to win all four golf majors.
And this week, as he prepared for the Genesis Scottish Open, the PGA Tour made sure that moment didn't go unnoticed.
NORTH BERWICK, SCOTLAND - JULY 08: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland reacts on the driving range prior to the Genesis Scottish Open 2025 at The Renaissance Club on July 08, 2025 in North Berwick, Scotland....
NORTH BERWICK, SCOTLAND - JULY 08: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland reacts on the driving range prior to the Genesis Scottish Open 2025 at The Renaissance Club on July 08, 2025 in North Berwick, Scotland. (Photo by) More
Getty Images
While practicing on the range at The Renaissance Club, McIlroy was surprised with a custom persimmon wood, an old-school club with a modern twist.
"This is for you, boss man," said Sky Sports Golf's John Morgan, handing over the gift.
Rory's face lit up instantly as he admired the beige head cover, embroidered with a red poppy, a nod to his daughter, and surrounded by the years of his first major wins.
From his breakthrough at the 2011 U.S. Open, where he dominated with a record-setting win over Jason Day, to the 2012 PGA Championship victory, the 2014 Open Championship and finally the emotional crescendo of the 2025 Masters, it had all the details.
"Lovely," McIlroy smiled, turning the club in his hands. The persimmon wood featured a green tapline, which caught his eye.
"Oh, a green tapline, good man," he said. "Come on man, we had to do that," replied the official, referencing the color of Northern Ireland's flag and McIlroy's Masters triumph.
The base of the club mirrored the head cover's design, and Rory couldn't help but admire it again: "Look at that."
'I could have played in any era.' @McIlroyRory was gifted a persimmon club to commemorate his career Grand Slam. pic.twitter.com/bT9OQAbYHB — PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 8, 2025
Then, in true Rory fashion, he stepped up and absolutely smashed a shot down the range.
"That was absolutely smoked," said Morgan, as the ball soared through the Scottish sky.
Rory twirled the club and grinned. "I could have played in any era," he joked, drawing laughter from the crowd.
This moment wasn't just about nostalgia for the green jacket winner but a celebration. McIlroy's Grand Slam came after 21 top-10 finishes in majors since his last win in 2014.
With the Open Championship at Royal Portrush just a week away, the timing of the gift couldn't have been more perfect.
And for fans who've followed every twist of his journey, that persimmon wood wasn't just a club. It was a symbol of everything Rory McIlroy has fought for, and finally achieved.
McIlroy will tee off in the first round of the Genesis Scottish Open on Thursday at 8:43 a.m. ET alongside Viktor Hovland and Xander Schauffele.
More Golf: Adam Hadwin's wife, Jessica, has 48 reasons why PGA Tour life is the best
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
32 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Rory McIlroy Is Barely Recognizable With New Haircut
Rory McIlroy Is Barely Recognizable With New Haircut originally appeared on The Spun. Rory McIlroy has been known for his black, curly haircut since he first came onto the professional golf scene more than 10 years ago. Advertisement The 36-year-old PGA Tour star from Northern Ireland is sporting a new look, though. McIlroy, who won The Masters earlier this year, is gearing up for The Open Championship, which is set for next Thursday, July 17. Six years ago, McIlroy failed to make the cut at the Open Championship at Royal Portrush in his native Northern Ireland. 'I wanted to be here for the weekend. Selfishly I wanted to feel that support for two more days. But today was probably one of the most fun rounds of golf I've ever played," he said of his failed attempt. 'It's strange saying that standing here and having had a bit of success and won this championship before, and just to be battling to make the cut. To play in front of those crowds today and to feel that momentum and really dig in, it's going to be a tough one to get over." In 2025, McIlroy will be looking to win his second Open Championship - he first won in 2014. And he'll be sporting a new look while doing so. Jun 12, 2025; Oakmont, Pennsylvania, USA; Rory McIlroy walks off the first tee during the first round of the U.S. Open golf tournament. McIlroy is rocking a buzzcut heading into the first round of The Open Championship later this month. Advertisement He's barely recognizable at first. "Haircut Rory looks like Jeremy Strong," one fan wrote. It's a sleek look for McIlroy, who has been graying a lot more in recent years (join the club, Rory). Perhaps his sleeker look will lead to cooler play over the course of the four rounds at The Open Championship later this month. The first round of the final major tournament of the year is scheduled to begin on Thursday, July 17. Hopefully, it'll be a fun one. Rory McIlroy Is Barely Recognizable With New Haircut first appeared on The Spun on Jul 9, 2025 This story was originally reported by The Spun on Jul 9, 2025, where it first appeared.


Newsweek
2 hours ago
- Newsweek
Phil Mickelson Claims He 'Owned Tiger Woods,' Named Putter Tiger Slayer
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods are two of the most well-known names in the history of modern professional golf. Throughout the early 2000s, those two guys were the faces of the PGA Tour. Now, Mickelson is a LIV Golf captain, and Tiger is taking on more of a leadership role as injuries continue to limit his competitive golf. Grant Horvat, the social phenom and avid golfer, posted a golf match video with Mickelson, squaring off against Bryson DeChambeau and Garrett Clark. During the round, he noticed Mickelson's putter cover and its name. "You actually have Tiger Slayer written on your putter cover," Horvat said. Mickelson chuckled and said, "Sometimes the truth hurts." ⛳️🐅🗡️ #WATCH: Phil Mickelson tells the tale of how his putter got its name: 'Tiger Slayer' and claims he and Tiger Woods are essentially tied when playing head to head. (Via: @GrantHorvatGolf) — NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) July 9, 2025 The camera cut to DeChambeau and Clark chuckling. "He has Tiger Slayer on his putter, that's funny — That guy's a madman," DeChambeau said. Mickelson then asked Horvat if he wanted to know how the flat stick got its name, and of course, the YouTuber was all ears for Lefty's story. He claimed it was from the 2012 AT&T Pro-Am at Pebble Beach. Mickelson earned his 40th career PGA Tour event that week, but the name came from the final round when he battled Tiger for the victory. "We went out and played. I used that putter. I made everything. I shot 64, he shot 75, and that's where it initially slayed the Tiger," Mickelson explained. From there, Horvat wanted to know if the putter continued to help the six-time major winner achieve success. Most know what kind of opponent Tiger Woods was during that time frame, and so did Mickelson. "He owned me the first half of our careers," Lefty explained. "His record against me head-to-head was dominant." LAS VEGAS, NV - NOVEMBER 20: (L-R) Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods face-off during a press conference before The Match at Shadow Creek Golf Course on November 20, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. LAS VEGAS, NV - NOVEMBER 20: (L-R) Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods face-off during a press conference before The Match at Shadow Creek Golf Course on November 20, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo byfor The Match Then he made a bold claim about his and Tiger's head-to-head record. "The second part, I owned him," Mickelson continued. "After 2007 I started working with Butch [Harmon] and I started doing really well head to head. Our head-to-head record when we were paired together —I believe it's dead even." Lefty's claim is not as accurate as he would like you to believe. But he made sure to give props where they were due. "It is now even when we play together," he noted. "His record is his record. He's the greatest of all time. I've seen him do things with a golf ball that I've never seen anybody be able to do. His play in 2000 was indescribable, how good it was." Was Phil Mickelson spot on vs. Tiger Woods? Many would think that these two stars often played together, but that is not the case. The two legends only played in the same group 38 times during their illustrious careers. Tiger recorded the better round 19 times, to Mickelson's 15. Four times they shot the same number. Woods won seven of those events to Lefty's three. However, one must remember that Mickelson said from 2007 onward that he "owned" Tiger Woods when they played together. From 2007 to 2020, Mickelson went 10-9-1 in head-to-head rounds. It is hard to call that any sort of domination. Nevertheless, most fans solely remember Woods leaving Phil in his tracks over and over. It is hard to believe that, as dominant as Tiger was throughout the 2000s and into the 2010s. But Mickelson was not too far off about the overall numbers. Today's stars play against each other all the time, so it is also wild to see that two of the best players on the PGA Tour have only gone head-to-head 38 times. These stats are just a hint at the battle between Tiger and Phil, though. Numerous other statistical categories demonstrate the Big Cat's dominance since 1997. Mickelson can call his putter the Tiger Slayer all he wants, but Woods still controlled golf throughout this period. More Golf: Keegan Bradley Praised for 'Wise Choice' Sure to Boost Team USA at Ryder Cup


New York Post
3 hours ago
- New York Post
Josh Allen lists California home for $8.5 million after marrying Hailee Steinfeld
Anyone with a spare $8.5 million can now own the former California home of NFL quarterback Josh Allen. The Bills star is selling his mansion in Dana Point, California — a four-bedroom, three-bathroom home — that he had originally purchased for $7.2 million, first reported. The extravagant home is in a gated community and has a private beach club. It's also in close proximity to five-star resorts. The amenities inside the home include ceiling-to-floor glass windows and a fireplace, the online listing posted by Douglas Elliman stated. 3 Josh Allen and Hailee Steinfeld pose for a photo on the red carpet at the 14th Annual NFL Honors at Saenger Theatre on February 6, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Getty Images 'Positioned on one of the neighborhood's larger private lots, it offers exceptional potential in a highly sought-after coastal community. Recently updated, including a new presidential roof, the residence is turnkey and livable as-is, with long-term potential to reimagine or expand,' the listing stated. 'Large openings with sliding doors create a natural flow between indoor and outdoor living, extending the space into the California sunshine,' the listing later stated. Three of the four bedrooms in the home have en suite bathrooms and direct access to outdoor spaces. 'The nearly 12,000-square-foot flat lot backs to Monarch Bay's private park with direct gated access, providing a perfect canvas for a resort-style backyard with pool, spa, and custom amenities,' the listing stated. 3 Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) throws the ball during Minicamp at Highmark Stadium. Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images 3 Josh Allen and Hailee Steinfeld attend the 14th Annual NFL Honors at Saenger Theatre on February 6, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Getty Images Allen's broker, Andy Stavros, told the Daily Mail that the QB's 'life has evolved' and that it 'no longer fits his needs.' The decision to sell the property comes after Allen tied the knot with actress Hailee Steinfeld in a stunning wedding in Santa Barbara on May 31. The nuptials were the culmination of a busy stretch for Allen that also included earning NFL MVP honors for his 2024 campaign, when he threw for 3,731 yards and 28 touchdowns. Allen's focus now is likely on the upcoming season as he looks to lead the Bills to a Super Bowl in 2025.