Scottie Scheffler is fighting for another Green Jacket, but even he had to pause to watch Rory McIlroy's charge at the Masters. The World No. 1 gave his honest reaction to his rival's performance, especially that second round.

Speaking of Rory McIlroy's impressive scoring in the second round, Scheffler said, "I watched a little bit of it. I was down in the training room," said Scheffler.

"I got some practice in yesterday afternoon.  So I was around. I saw a bit of it. Yeah, it was pretty special stuff," he added on Saturday.

The Texan offered this candid assessment after carding an impressive 65 in the third round, noting that while he was focused on his own game, McIlroy's performance was impossible to ignore.

The defending champion hit four straight birdies in the second round at the 6th and 7th holes and carded 65. His six-shot lead at the halfway mark went into the record books as the largest after 36 holes.

During the week leading up to Saturday, Scheffler coped with a changing leaderboard and finished the second round at 2-over par, tying for 24th before his impressive run began Saturday morning. He now sits tied for 7th place.

Scottie Scheffler’s Mental Grit at Augusta

In addition to watching the competitors, Scheffler's round with the irons was a lesson in itself. However, the golfer jokingly argued with reporters over whether his 65 could have been even better, taking into account all his birdie chances.

The American player credited his performance to his ball striking, saying, "I hit it really nice today. I felt like I was very sharp with the irons. Got it up there. Gave myself a lot of opportunities."

The World No. 1 noted that winning at Augusta requires mental toughness, not just physical strength.

When discussing the mindset needed to perform well in major tournaments, he further stated, "I think that's what great players and great competitors do is they're able to rise to the occasion."

So, do you agree with Scottie Scheffler's remarks about McIlroy's second round at Augusta this year? Tell us in the comments.

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Written by

Abhishek Sharma

Edited by

Sagnik Bagchi