named the TaylorMade M2 driver as his favourite golf club of all time and then insisted the implement is "probably illegal" now. The four-time Major winner used the club for a spell around eight years ago after moving away from Nike and signing a lucrative contract with TaylorMade.

over the weekend as he eyed up silverware.

But he eventually tied for 17th as Swedish star Ludvig Aberg clinched glory by one stroke ahead of American Maverick McNealy.

McIlroy was quizzed about his favourite club during a press conference at the event over the weekend.

"Favourite club of all-time, wow," pondered the 35-year-old. He then exclaimed: "Um, probably the M2 driver. I stare at it in my garage sometimes. I wish I could still use you sometimes but it's probably illegal at this point."

McIlroy first began testing the M2 in late 2016 after Nike stopped producing golf equipment. But, according to , general wear on the club face causes it to send balls flying so far that it wouldn't pass PGA Tour testing.

McIlroy signed a new multi-year deal with TaylorMade in 2022 to continue using their golf equipment.

The Northern Irishman was then spotted using a couple of Justin Thomas' Vokeys in Dubai. And he explained: "Yeah, so this is my first year of my new deal with TaylorMade, and they gave me just a little bit of flexibility with some of the clubs that I can play.

"Yeah, so that was really it. I was messing around with Justin, I see Justin Thomas all the time at home and messing around with some of his wedges and some of the grinds he has. I got in touch and ordered a couple, and they've worked really nicely."

McIlroy has established himself as one of the best golfers in the world and will have his first opportunity of the year to clinch his fifth Major at the Masters in April. The blockbuster star has never won the tournament but finished second to Scottie Scheffler at Augusta in 2022.

He has finished in the top 10 at the tournament on seven occasions but was finished tied in 22nd place last time around.

The talented ace won his first Major at the 2011 US Open, before winning the PGA Championship for the first time in 2014. Incredibly, he went on to taste victory at back-to-back Majors in 2014 when he won the Open and the PGA Championship in the space of three weeks.