Rory McIlroy Gives Emphatic Answer To Scheffler vs Schauffele Debate
Rory McIlroy Weighs in on the Scheffler vs. Schauffele Debate This year, Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele have undeniably been the standout players in men’s golf. Both have delivered extraordinary performances, making it difficult to determine who has had the more impressive season. Scheffler’s season has been nothing short of spectacular. His crowning achievements include…
Rory McIlroy Weighs in on the Scheffler vs. Schauffele Debate
This year, Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele have undeniably been the standout players in men’s golf. Both have delivered extraordinary performances, making it difficult to determine who has had the more impressive season.
Scheffler’s season has been nothing short of spectacular. His crowning achievements include winning The Masters and securing an Olympic gold medal. On top of these, he added five other victories to his resume, including a win at The Players Championship, the PGA Tour’s marquee event.
Schauffele, on the other hand, has enjoyed a breakthrough season of his own. He has been remarkably consistent, not missing a single cut, and capturing his first two Major titles—the PGA Championship and The Open.
While the debate over which golfer had the better season has been intense, Rory McIlroy, a four-time Major winner himself, has made his position clear. Speaking ahead of his appearance at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, the first event of this week’s FedEx Cup Playoffs, McIlroy gave the nod to Scheffler.
“Scottie’s had the better season,” McIlroy said. “Winning The Masters, an Olympic gold medal, and six tournaments in total—it’s tough to argue against that.”
McIlroy went on to praise Scheffler’s stunning performance at the Olympics, where his final round, particularly the back nine, was nothing short of extraordinary. “His 29 on the back nine at Le Golf National was incredible,” McIlroy recalled. “I thought I was on course for something similar, but he just kept pushing. Scottie has this ability to find the right shots and sink crucial putts, even when he’s on the fringes of contention. He’s relentless.”
Reflecting on his own season, McIlroy acknowledged that it hasn’t been up to his usual standards, despite two wins on the PGA Tour—at the Wells Fargo Championship and the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. “I don’t want to downplay my achievements this year, but I do hold myself to a high standard. I’ve had chances to win more and haven’t capitalized. It’s been a good season, but I’d have liked to add more victories.”
Looking ahead to the Playoffs, McIlroy is determined to turn his “okay season into a very good one” by finishing strong over the next three weeks. He recognizes the need to be more decisive in the closing stages of tournaments. “I’ve had flashes where I’ve closed well, like at Quail Hollow. But there have also been times, like at the US Open and the Olympics, where I’ve faltered at the wrong moment.”
McIlroy’s focus is on preparing better under pressure, acknowledging that it’s an area where he needs improvement. “Golf presents these challenges, and right now, my challenge is to get over that final hurdle. It’s good, but not quite good enough to take home the silverware. I’m working through it.”
McIlroy will begin his quest for a fourth FedEx Cup title on Thursday, teeing off alongside Collin Morikawa at 10:45 AM EDT (3:45 PM BST).