Rory McIlroy Leaves Driver in Hotel Room for India Championship

Rory McIlroy starts the DP World India Championship this week with his biggest club possibly left behind at the hotel. Delhi Golf Club is so tight that McIlroy said his driver may not even reach the course, and he will lean on a 2-iron and a 5-wood instead.

The tournament is the search story in golf right now. McIlroy tees off in the first round at 9:45 p.m. ET on Wednesday night, United States time, in a group with Tommy Fleetwood and Robert MacIntyre. Delhi Golf Club hosts the event for the second straight year.

Why the driver stays in the bag

McIlroy was second in Strokes Gained off the tee on the PGA Tour this season and is one of the longest hitters in the game. Delhi takes that weapon away. The fairways are narrow and tree-lined, and McIlroy said his best chance is to keep the driver in the bag, or in the hotel room, so he is not tempted to hit it.

A decade more, and a trailer to prove it

At 37, McIlroy said this week he wants to play at the top for another ten years. He pointed to Justin Rose, still winning on the PGA Tour at 46, and to Novak Djokovic, still playing Grand Slams at 39. Both use a performance truck for training and recovery, and McIlroy has now signed as a global ambassador for DP World, which will take a personal trailer from event to event for him on both tours. The trailer carries strength and cardio gear, an infrared sauna, a cold plunge and a recovery station.

McIlroy is chasing a record-matching eighth Race to Dubai title, and a first DP World Tour win in India would help. His last start was the BMW PGA Championship, where he tied for second, two shots behind J.J. Spaun.