New Delhi, Oct. 23 -- For the opening round, Rory McIlroy-universally acknowledged as one of the longest and straightest drivers of the golf ball in history-arrived without a driver in the bag. You can't overstate the significance of that move. When the world's No. 2 player, and arguably the best driver of the ball ever, benches his most potent weapon, the golfing world stops and pays attention. He's never done that before-not as a professional, not as an amateur.

McIlroy wasn't the only one. Tommy Fleetwood, who went on to win the event, Viktor Hovland, Keita Nakajima-in fact, 42% of the field-chose to keep the driver out of play at Delhi Golf Club last week.

The phrase "championship layout", has become commonplace-a tag claimed by alm...