How ‘Aquaman’ Saved the Day

When Rory needed his old clubs STAT, an Uber driver named “Aquaman” came to the rescue.

Let’s set the scene: It’s Saturday night, and Rory McIlroy is seven shots off the lead at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. He’s staring down a final round at Bay Hill, and something just doesn’t feel right. His new TaylorMade Qi35 driver and fairway woods? They’re not cutting it. Rory knows what he needs: his trusty old Qi10s.

There’s just one problem. His beloved clubs are 150 miles away in Jupiter, Florida.

Cue the hero of this story: an Uber driver named “Aquaman.”

The Mission: Clubs, Not Passengers

Aquaman (yes, that’s his nickname, and yes, he looks like the superhero) was just wrapping up a long day of driving when the notification popped up on his phone. The pickup location? Trump National Golf Club Jupiter. The cargo? Rory McIlroy’s golf clubs.

“I remember arriving at the property and being greeted by a very elegant and polite lady,” Aquaman recalled. “She told me she urgently needed me to take some golf clubs to Orlando. She emphasized that it was very important.”

Moments later, Rory himself was on the phone, thanking Aquaman in advance and asking him to drive carefully. No pressure, right?

The Ride: Red Bull and a Sandwich

Aquaman loaded Rory’s clubs—packed in a sleek, light blue camouflage travel case—into his 2024 Lincoln Navigator and hit the road. His first stop? A gas station in Jupiter for fuel, a sandwich, and a Red Bull. After all, it was going to be a nearly three-hour drive, and Aquaman had already been behind the wheel all day.

The drive itself was smooth sailing. As Aquaman approached Bay Hill, he called Rory to let him know he was close. “I’m sitting outside waiting,” Rory told him.

When Aquaman pulled up, Rory was there to greet him. The two exchanged a quick hello, Rory grabbed his clubs, and—here’s the kicker—handed Aquaman a $330 Tip + $665 fare. That’s right: a cool $995 for one night’s work.

The Clubs: Old Faithfuls

For Rory, this wasn’t just about switching clubs—it was about going back to what he knew. Golfers are a superstitious bunch, and Rory’s Qi10s were his old faithfuls. As he put it, “Some years you vibe with a new piece of equipment a little easier. Like that Qi10 driver that I’m using… it was like love at first sight.”

While the switch didn’t immediately pay off at Bay Hill (Rory shot an even-par 72 on Sunday), it set the stage for his dominant performance at The Players Championship the following week. With his Qi10s back in the bag, Rory shot three rounds in the 60s, finished at 12-under, and won in a playoff against J.J. Spaun.

Coincidence? Maybe. But having his old clubs back certainly didn’t hurt.

The Aftermath: Aquaman’s Moment of Fame

Aquaman has since become a minor celebrity in the golf world, with headlines touting his role in Rory’s Players Championship victory. “I feel lucky and happy to have played a small part in getting Rory back on track,” he said.

His only regret? Not snapping a photo with Rory to commemorate the moment. “I was going to ask,” Aquaman admitted, “but I felt too shy.”

Still, he’s got one heck of a story to tell. And let’s be honest—how many Uber drivers can say they helped a four-time major champion win a tournament?

Your Turn: What’s Your Take?

At Better Golf News, we love a good underdog story—and Aquaman definitely fits the bill. What do you think about Rory’s last-minute club switch? Would you trust an Uber driver with your golf clubs? If I was Aquaman, I would have asked for a % of his winnings.