World No.1 Scottie Scheffler came very close to winning his third Green Jacket this month. However, it was World No. 2 Rory McIlroy who came out on top in Augusta. Recently, in a press conference, Scheffler had a few words to share on the Green Jacket winner.

Scheffler and McIlroy have been strong contenders on the PGA Tour. Winning regularly, going head-to-head, and breaking records, both share a warm and healthy rivalry.

“I think when you look at just his game specifically, I think his ability to drive the ball is, I mean, I think it's the best that I've seen. Not only with his speed, but how accurate he is as well. He's able to take out certain things on some golf courses that not many players can do. He does it in a way where he hits a lot of fairways as well.” Scheffler said.

McIlroy has been one of the best drivers on the PGA Tour. He currently stands first in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee at +0.799 and Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green at +1.933.

Moreover, off the tee, McIlroy averages 319.7 yards in 2026, ranking eighth on the PGA Tour. His off-the-tee record in 2023 (326.3 yards) is the longest single-season average in Tour history.

Scheffler highlighted another appreciable factor in McIlroy, saying, “Then I think another thing is his longevity. I think it's hard to have an understanding of what it takes to remain at the top for as long as he has when you don't see it each week. Like the players, I think we see each other do all the things that it takes in order to have success out here, and Rory is one of those guys that checks the box each week. He's a guy I always see in the gym, the practice facility.”

Ever since turning pro in 2007, McIlroy has remained amongst the top rankings. With 30 wins on the PGA Tour, success at the Ryder Cup, and now, with the completion of the Career Grand Slam, McIlroy has cemented his legacy in the game. 

With back-to-back Masters titles, McIlroy joined an elite group consisting of Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo, and Tiger Woods, who have been the only ones to achieve that feat.

Scheffler, along with the other PGA pros, has always been impressed by McIlroy’s longevity. With the PGA Championship round the corner, the top two rankers will be having their eyes on another major.

Scheffler and McIlroy’s Record In The PGA Championship

Both Scheffler and McIlroy have been massively successful in the PGA Championship. Scheffler is the defending champion, having won the major at Quail Hollow last year. He won with an impressive lead of five strokes.

McIlroy, on the other hand, is a two-time winner. His most recent victory was back in 2014, after which he went on a decade-long major drought. 

McIlroy’s win in 2012 broke many records. He won with a record 8-shot lead, surpassing the noted Jack Nicklaus's seven-stroke win in 1980. It would be another engaging battle between the two top players, as they go head-to-head at Aronimink Golf Club next month.

So, while Scheffler holds McIlroy in high regard, do you think that the Northern Ireland native is in the league of the Jack Nicklauses and Tiger Woods? Let us know your opinions in the comments.

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Written by

Avishek Sarkar

Edited by

Souvik Roy