How do Nike’s Big Two Compare? An In The Bag Special – Tiger Woods 2014 v Rory McIlroy 2014

Although he may have slid down the rankings in 2013, there’s no doubting that golf’s ‘big two’  are still the two players who enjoy a massive endorsement from Nike Golf; Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy.

Both have had well-documented travails with their equipment in recent times. Tiger’s dodgy driving has been dogging him for a little while (though did seem to improve in 2013) whereas McIlroy’s switch to Nike clubs in 2013 preceded a disappointing season for the Irishman.

Will 2014 be any better and what clubs are these two powerhouses of the game carrying in their bag?

Let’s find out!

In The Bag 2014 _ Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy

Drivers

• Tiger –  Nike VRS Cover 2.0 Tour Driver (9.5 degree loft)
• Rory – Nike VRS Covert 2.0 Tour Driver (8.5 degree loft)

The only difference between the clubs is that Rory opts for a slightly less open clubface than Tiger. Certainly at the moment, given Tiger’s poor performance in the Farmers Insurance Open, when he really struggled from the tee at times, seems to indicate that some of his old driving woes are still likely to raise their head from time to time.

Fairway Woods

• Tiger –  Nike VRS Covert Tour 3 Wood (15 degree) & 5 Wood (19 degree)
• Rory – Nike VRS Covert Tour 3 Wood (15 degree) & 5 Wood (19 degree)

There’s nothing to choose between the two when it comes to Fairway Woods, with Rory McIlroy particularly impressed with the new Nike clubs in the bag for this season stating “You need to maximise your distance off the tee but you also want that high shot off the ground that can land soft going into par 5’s. I feel the Covert 3-wood does both of those things for me.”

Irons

• Tiger –   Nike VR Pro Blade Irons (3-iron through to Pitching Wedge)
• Rory – Nike VR Pro Blade Irons (3-iron through to 9-iron)

Tiger opts for the full range of Irons, through to Pitching Wedge, but Rory takes the PW out of his bag to make space for an additional 46 degrees gap wedge (see below). He explained “I just feel like the clubs exits the turf a lot better than the old ones and cuts through more… I’m actually a bit longer with them and the ball. I used to hit a six iron about 190 yards and now it’s just over 200.”

Wedges

• Tiger –  Nike VR Pro Wedges x 2 (56 degrees and 60 degrees)
• Rory – Nike VR Pro Wedges x 3 (46 degrees, 56 degrees and 60 degrees)

As explained above, Rory has a gap wedge in his bag in place of a pitching wedge, but still has the same 56 and 60 degree wedges in his bag that his stablemate has.

Putter

• Tiger –  Nike Method Putter No 001
• Rory – Nike Method Putter No 006

Tiger likes the offset Nike Method Putter 001 at present and is hopeful that this will be the club that sees him emerge as king of the greens again in 2014. McIlroy’s putter looks similar but is the number 006 Midnight version, so both will be using an offset putter throughout 2014.

Ball

• Tiger –  Nike ONE Tour D
• Rory – Nike RZN Black

After a glowing test-tun at the World Golf Championship Bridgestone Invitational last year, Rory McIlroy could not wait to get his hands on the brand new Nike RZN black ball for 2014. Tiger however has remained loyal to the ONE Tour D ball he has played for the last five years – so far. Nike’s chief ball designer, Rock Ishii, stated that he expected Woods to switch to the RZN at some point in the near future, revealing that he has been trialling it during the off season.

Conclusion

The difference in equipment may be small, the difference in ability may be even smaller, but there’s no doubt that both McIlroy and Woods are looking for 2014 to be a special year. Woods has already told fans not to read too much into his poor showing at the Farmers Insurance Open last week, while McIlroy has let it be known he wants not one, but two Major’s in 2014.

With less than 12 weeks to Augusta, both players have time, experience and the equipment on their side to fulfil their ambitions in 2014.

Which one will?

Images Courtesy of Nike Golf