McIlroy and Fleetwood confirm huge driver switch for Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship

TaylorMade's Qi4D driver line, its presumptive release for the 2026 season, caused quite a stir when it hit the USGA conforming list earlier this week.

The brand new range of drivers from the biggest brand in the game has a lot to live up to, following on from two successful driver models in the Qi10 and Qi35 – models that between them are played by three of the world's five best golfers.

And while both prior TaylorMade drivers have received rave reviews, perhaps a more important marker of success is the impact they've had on the tour game – with club reputations often living or dying on their uptake at a pro level.

It's for this reason that many are wondering if the Qi4D might finally be the club to wrest the world's best two players, Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, away from their 2023-era Qi10 models. 

Thankfully, a positive sign for the brand has already come this week in both Rory's and Tommy Fleetwood's choice to put the Qi4D range straight in the bag in practice for the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, as confirmed by equipment insider SMS On Tour. 

After practicing with the new driver yesterday, it was confirmed that Rory will be sticking with the Qi4D core model for competition play this weekend, while Fleetwood will be moving into the Qi4D LS. Both will be using their previous gamer shafts: the Fujikura Ventus Black and Ventus Blue TR, respectively.

With the Qi4D hitting the USGA conforming list this week, many expected the new line to see testing time at Yas Links this week. As such, speculation was rife as to whether Rory or Tommy, two of TaylorMade's biggest stars, would switch straight into the new model or at least test it out. 

Now, the fact that both McIlroy and Fleetwood have already taken it out on course can only be seen as a positive sign that TaylorMade have once again got things right with this new model.

Fleetwood is a player typically more malleable to equipment changes, having switched straight out of the Qi10 into the Qi35 range last year and doing so once again for the 2025/26 period. As ever, he'll be gaming the Qi4D LS variant: a lower launching, lower-spinning driver designed for better players, while Rory tested the Qi4D core model.

What's new in the TaylorMade Qi4D driver?

While the USGA have confirmed that the Qi4D range has been added to the conforming list, most of the important updates about the driver and its new features will naturally be withheld until the driver's official launch, likely to take place early next year.

What we have been able to gleam from the USGA information, as well as the videos of the drivers on the range, is that all Qi4D models will have carbon faces, combined while the brand's famed 'Speed Pocket' technology which helps assist ball speed across the face.

Each of the models will also have an updated adjustable weight system. Rory's core Qi4D will be the brand's all-rounder, equipped with a pair of adjustable weights for different shot shaping purposes. 

The Qi4D LS, as used by Fleetwood will provide a lower-launching, lower-spin option for better players, with a 15g forward weight and and a separate backward weights, while and the Qi4D Max will be the most forgiving of the trio with a 4g front weight and a larger weight placed at the back for maximum launch and MOI.

SMS on Tour also gave us our clearest look yet at the aesthetic qualities of the Qi4D Core model, which Rory was spotted testing at yesterday's practice round. In contrast to the monochrome images put out by the USGA, the final retail version seems to have some golden yellow and metallic blue accents.

That, sadly, is all we're allowed to know for now. However as soon as we get more official details, we'll be among the first to report them.