Rory McIlroy's $995 Late-Night Uber Adventure: His Driver Hunt and the 'Aquaman' Rescue
When Rory McIlroy needed his old TaylorMade Qi10 clubs for the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational, he arranged a unique $995 Uber delivery from Jupiter to Orlando, Florida — a 150-mile journey.
; courtesy Aquaman (right))
An Uber driver known as "Aquaman" received the unusual request to pick up McIlroy's clubs from Trump National Golf Club Jupiter. After being greeted by staff and speaking directly with McIlroy on the phone, Aquaman loaded the light blue camouflage travel case into his 2024 Lincoln Navigator.
The late-night journey included a quick stop for fuel, a sandwich, and Red Bull before making the nearly three-hour drive to Bay Hill. Upon arrival, McIlroy personally greeted Aquaman and provided a generous $330 tip on top of the $665 fare.
While McIlroy's final round at Bay Hill resulted in an even-par 72 and T15 finish, the reunion with his trusted clubs proved valuable the following week. At The Players Championship, McIlroy secured victory after three rounds in the 60s and winning a three-hole playoff against J.J. Spaun.
McIlroy explained his attachment to the Qi10 driver, stating, "Some years you vibe with a new piece of equipment a little easier... when you feel like that about a golf club, it's very hard to change into something else."
Aquaman, who has been driving for Uber for three and a half years, expressed feeling "lucky and happy" to play a small role in McIlroy's success, though he regretted being too shy to request a photo with the world's second-ranked golfer.