Every new season on Tour begins with purposeful evaluation. Launch windows are refined. Spin rates are dialed. Every new piece of equipment is tested until it proves it can elevate performance when it matters most.
After early testing in the fall of 2025, Rory McIlroy, Nelly Korda and Collin Morikawa all made two big switches. You may have heard the stories behind their new Qi4D drivers, but now we will tell you why they each already have the new TP5 and TP5x golf balls in the bag.
While their games are different, the reason behind each switch is the same: more control without sacrificing speed. That performance benefit comes directly from TaylorMade’s revolutionary microcoating technology.
Below, we break down exactly why Rory, Nelly, and Collin made the switch—and what the same Tour-validated performance can mean for your game.
RORY MCILROY: CHOOSING CONTROL, SHOT VERSATILITY AND SPIN CONSISTENCY
Rory’s switch to TP5 before the start of his 2025 season has been well-documented – and for good reason. In fact, he credits the switch as to why he was able to hold the green on his now legendary draw into the 15th hole at Augusta before claiming the career Grand Slam.
The move to the 2026 TP5 was about continuing to unlock greater shot versatility, especially in challenging conditions and on partial shots.
Rory’s equipment setup has evolved since his career defining win – as he only has two clubs in the bag that were by his side at Augusta. The most notable switch is the new P·7CB irons that launch slightly higher than his famed Rors Proto blades.
That setup is complimented by the new TP5 that launches a touch lower while delivering exceptionally consistent spin rates, helping Rory maintain a familiar trajectory window throughout the bag.
"If you have a golf ball that produces consistency in spin, then you only have to worry about launch angle," Senior Tour Manager Adrian Rietveld said. "A great player like Rory can control that."
From Rory’s perspective, the biggest difference is control, especially when shaping shots and taking speed off the ball.
“For me over the past few years, I've definitely placed more importance on the control aspect, taking speed off shots and flighting them. Before switching to TP5 last year, I felt my game was becoming one-dimensional and by playing TP5 I’ve added a little more versatility to my game.”Rory McIlroy
He notes that the new TP5:
- Spins more consistently
- Launches slightly lower with short irons
- Holds its line better on off-center strikes
- Feels softer and more responsive around the greens
In windy conditions, Rory has found the TP5 allows him to hit controlled cuts and three-quarter shots that hold spin without ballooning — something he believes adds versatility to his game.
“The nice thing with thew new TP5 is that I feel like I can still put enough spin on it so that it doesn’t one bounce through a green. I feel like my tentativeness to back flags isn’t what it used to be. I can be a little more aggressive.”Rory McIlroy
NELLY KORDA: MORE SPIN, MORE STOPPING POWER, MORE AGGRESSION
Nelly’s switch to 2026 TP5x came from a different—but equally important—performance need.
During the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship prep in September, Nelly approached Senior Tour Manager Ryan Ressa about how she felt her iron shots were launching low and spinning less than desired, especially into firm major championship greens.
To create more spin but retain the same feel and speed of TP5x, our R&D team created a Tour prototype TP5x. After testing the prototype 2026 TP5x in late October, the results were immediate.
The new TP5x delivered:
- More spin and higher peak height with irons
- Improved stopping power into firm greens
- Enhanced short-game spin and control
Those changes allowed Nelly to shift her strategy to be more aggressive. With more spin and control, she can now fire at pins, more easily shape iron shots, and trust the ball to hold greens—even in windy conditions such as in her win in her first start of 2026 at Lake Nona.
“The new TP5x is a game changer for her. When I walked with her after first putting it in play, the ball was noticeably better with her irons. She was playing more aggressively and felt like she could attack pins more freely. She can be way more aggressive with her scoring clubs, which is something she felt like she couldn’t do toward the end of last season.”Ryan Ressa, Senior Tour Manager
Around the greens, the new TP5x has also changed Nelly’s chipping approach. With more check and predictability, she’s able to be more assertive through impact, adding spin rather than guiding shots.
COLLIN MORIKAWA: CONSISTENCY IN THE WIND AND ELITE DISTANCE CONTROL
Few players in the world are as exacting with their iron play as Collin Morikawa, which makes his switch to the 2026 TP5 especially telling.
Morikawa’s feedback centers on three key performance gains:
- Consistent spin numbers
- Improved wind performance
- Superior distance control
When testing TP5, Collin noticed a slightly higher launch paired with a ball flight that remains “tight” in the wind—meaning it doesn’t knuckle or lose predictability. Importantly, the ball still allows him to play the wind, rather than eliminating it entirely, which is critical for elite shot-making.
“The spin numbers are really consistent. It flies better in the wind and has better distance control — and that’s everything in our game.”Collin Morikawa
For a player whose success depends on precise yardages and predictable ball flight, the new TP5 delivers repeatability, helping Morikawa dial in approach shots under tournament pressure.
2026 TP5 & TP5x ON TOUR
Rory, Nelly and Collin aren’t the only Team TaylorMade athletes that put 2026 TP5 and TP5x in play:
- Brooke Henderson: TP5x
- Ryo Hisatsune: TP5x
- Jacob Bridgeman: TP5x prototype
- Karl Vilips: TP5
- Michael Thorbjornsen: TP5
- Keita Nakajima: TP5
With that, success has been aplenty for Team TaylorMade. Ryo recorded his best career finish on the PGA TOUR with a T2 at the Farmers Insurance Open. In a chilly and windy Florida, Brooke started her year with a third-place finish in her first start with 2026 TP5x.
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