Scottie Scheffler sets record straight and insists Rory McIlroy claims ‘not the truth’
World No.1 golfer Scottie Scheffler has refuted claims that Rory McIlroy’s advice earlier this season was the catalyst behind his highly successful switch to a new putter. Rumors had circulated that McIlroy’s suggestion played a key role in Scheffler’s decision to change his putter, but the American insists that this narrative is “untrue.” Despite McIlroy…
World No.1 golfer Scottie Scheffler has refuted claims that Rory McIlroy’s advice earlier this season was the catalyst behind his highly successful switch to a new putter. Rumors had circulated that McIlroy’s suggestion played a key role in Scheffler’s decision to change his putter, but the American insists that this narrative is “untrue.” Despite McIlroy encouraging Scheffler to make the switch earlier in the season, the world No.1 golfer clarified that it was a decision he had been considering with his team for some time.
For years, Scheffler used a Scotty Cameron Timeless Tourtype GSS putter, a tool that contributed to his six PGA Tour victories in 2022. However, by the summer of 2023, Scheffler found himself struggling with his putting and started experimenting with different models each week in search of improvement.
At the Genesis Invitational in February, McIlroy had openly suggested that Scheffler should try a mallet-style putter, a model that is known to offer more forgiveness. Following that event, Scheffler took McIlroy’s advice, opting for a TaylorMade Spider Tour X putter at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill. The switch immediately paid dividends, as Scheffler went on to win the tournament by five strokes, marking his first start after receiving McIlroy’s suggestion.
McIlroy later quipped that he had inadvertently given himself more competition, joking, “I’m not going to give him any more advice, that’s for sure,” when asked about Scheffler’s newfound putting prowess. Scheffler’s improvement on the greens since the switch was undeniable, leading to speculation that McIlroy’s advice had been pivotal in the decision.
However, during an appearance on the popular sports podcast *Pardon My Take*, Scheffler addressed the rumors head-on. When asked whether McIlroy’s advice directly influenced his putter change, Scheffler denied it, stating: “No, it’s something that I’d thought about, but don’t let the truth get in the way of a good story, right?” He explained that he and his putting coach had already been discussing a possible change in his equipment long before McIlroy’s comments.
Scheffler elaborated that while he had improved his putting slightly at the start of the season, he still felt there was room for growth. He added, “It was nice for me to get out of my own head and look at something different. I used to line up the ball where I wanted to hit it when I was putting, and it would kinda get in my head a little bit.” The switch to a mallet-style putter allowed him to gain more confidence and focus less on mechanics.
The story of McIlroy’s unsolicited advice originated from a televised segment in which McIlroy, serving as a guest analyst on CBS, shared his personal insights about putter preferences. McIlroy explained that a blade putter, which Scheffler had been using, requires a player’s stroke to be “so perfect,” while a mallet-style putter provides more margin for error. “I’d love to see Scottie try a mallet,” McIlroy said at the time, but admitted he was reluctant to offer help as Scheffler was already playing at such a high level, jokingly adding, “Selfishly, for me, Scottie does everything else so well that he’s giving the rest of us a chance.”
In March, McIlroy clarified his comments, explaining that he was more focused on discussing his own struggles with putting rather than criticizing Scheffler. “It’s very hard to talk about other players. Scottie has had enough criticism about his putting — you guys talk about it enough. It was me basically trying to talk about myself more than talk about Scottie,” McIlroy said.
While McIlroy’s suggestion may have coincided with Scheffler’s transition to a new putter, the American insists it was ultimately a decision made in consultation with his coach. Scheffler’s dominant performances following the switch have solidified his status as the world’s top golfer, but he remains adamant that McIlroy’s influence on the change has been overstated.