SMYLIE KAUFMAN can’t wait to see Rory McIlroy at the Players Championship – after the Northern Irishman turned on the style at the driving range.

Four-time major winner Rory, 35, tees off at the iconic TPC Sawgrass later this week.

McIlroy has not won a major since 2014 and struggled at the Arnold Palmer Invitational earlier this month.

The 35-year-old made the “mind-boggling” decision to change his clubs for the tournament.

He failed to break 70 once, reverting to his usual setup on Sunday for the final round.

Kaufman was in awe of the 35-year-old’s power after scouting him out on the range at the event.

But the American was baffled by Rory’s decision to switch his clubs – and believes he should have another rethink before the first round in Sawgrass.

Kaufman said: “Rory’s ability to get it on the green faster than everybody else, and further, that’s his strength.

“So he got the new driver that he’s talking about, he goes to a three wood that flies 300 yards.

“He has a five wood that flies 280, and then he has a three iron that he had in the bag that would fly 260 yards.”

Kaufman continued: “I was watching him hit these three irons and the fairway metals on the range on Tuesday and Wednesday.

“He hit 160 ball speed with a three iron. Just unfathomable how hard he was hitting these clubs.”

Kaufman added it was “a surprise” to see Rory switch back to his old club selection on Sunday.

He said: “That is a huge change when we talk about what is almost a month away – the first major of the season.”

McIlroy won the Players in 2019 and is hoping to end Scottie Scheffler‘s recent dominance in the tournament.

Asked if Sawgrass would be a different challenge to Bay Hill last week, Rory said: “I don’t know, it’s just they’re two completely different tests.

“You know, the rough isn’t quite as thick next week.

“It’s going to be quite a lot softer, so, yeah… they’re not super similar, they’re both in Florida, but that’s about it.”