Rory McIlroy’s driver attracts a lot of attention, as it helps him drive over 320 yards right in the middle of fairways most of the time. And it drew attention once again at the 2026 Masters. This time, it was for a headcover sitting on his TaylorMade Qi4D driver, a dog one.

“So I’ve had this headcover since I was 14 years old,” McIlroy told his club sponsor, TaylorMade, as reported by Golf Monthly.

It is a St. Bernard dog headcover sitting on his driver. The headcover dates back to when McIlroy was just 14, growing up in Holywood, Northern Ireland. Despite switching clubs and gear over the years, this piece has stayed with him and has traveled across tournaments worldwide.

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“This guy has done a lot of air miles, we’ve probably been around the world together 100 times so he’s seen a lot of cool things,” he added.

It also reflects his deep affection for dogs. The Northern Irishman has long been vocal about his love for dogs.

The 5x major winner had “a couple of” dogs growing up. He named his first dog Theo, after golf idol Theodore Ernest Els. Ernie Els is a legendary South African professional. He was also known as “The Big Easy” for his fluid swing and tall stature. The South African was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2011. Rory McIlroy idolized him and later befriended him.

From naming his first dog after Ernie Els to supporting dog charities and rescue initiatives, he loves them a lot.

“I’ve always loved dogs, I had a couple of dogs growing up, and I’m just a big dog person,” he said about his love for canines.

Rory McIlroy’s love for dogs

In April 2024, at the Zurich Classic, McIlroy filmed a video with rescue dog Cuddles.

“Hi, everyone, I’m Rory McIlroy, and this is Cuddles. Cuddles is waiting to be adopted and find her forever home. So, if you feel so inclined, if you want to adopt her, I guess click the link and you’ll know where to find her,” the golfer said.

He was doing this in support of Amanda Balionis’ Puppies & Golf nonprofit. The nonprofit was launched in 2020. It funds U.S. shelters and educates about adopting rather than buying.

Apart from that promotion, Rory McIlroy has also met and played with dogs on the PGA Tour. He playfully teased a black Labrador named Dudley on the 18th tee at Carnoustie during the first round of the 2014 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

The 29x PGA Tour winner was waiting to tee off with his father, Gerry. That’s when he spotted Dudley off to the side. So, he beckoned the dog over and dangled his “Big Dog” St. Bernard headcover for Dudley to play with. The moment delighted the crowd and also went viral on social media.

“Just something to, I don’t know, pass the time a little I guess. Got my doggy head cover out for him to play with for a little bit, which was good fun,” he told the media after the round.

Something similar occurred at the Players Championship 2020, too. This time, the golfer met a service dog explicitly named after him during practice rounds. Photos and PGA Tour clips also captured the incident, showing a warm interaction.

While he loves dogs a lot, Rory McIlroy also has an affection for other animals. Back in 2019, McIlroy visited Dubai, where people saw him playing with spider monkeys. He even fed apples to elephants in South Africa. And he also visited the Black Jaguar White Tiger Foundation.

His long history with dogs shows that this connection runs far deeper than a simple accessory. Therefore, the St. Bernard headcover on his driver at the Masters feels like a meaningful constant in his bag.