Xander Schauffele gave Rory McIlroy a compliment that also highlighted just how tough he is to beat.

Speaking to reporters ahead of the $20 million Truist Championship at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, the 2024 PGA Championship winner discussed McIlroy’s Masters performance and called it “scary.”

The comment surfaced Thursday through Golf Digest director Jamie Kennedy on X, where he shared the moment from Schauffele’s Wednesday press conference.

Reporters asked the two-time major winner about Rory McIlroy’s performance at the Masters. Earlier this year, McIlroy defended his title and became only the fourth player in the past 90 years to win back-to-back green jackets.

"His best club was his worst club, and he still won the tournament," Schauffele said. "That's a little scary, obviously, if you're competing against him."

At Augusta, McIlroy hit only 13 of 28 fairways over 36 holes, ranking 90th out of 91 players in driving accuracy.

He was ahead of only one player, who finished 30 shots back. Still, he led the field in driving distance, averaging 334 yards on measured drives. Even with some wayward tee shots, he made birdies on holes 7, 8, and 13.

For the 2026 season overall, McIlroy ranks 61st on Tour in driving accuracy at 60.20%. He is still averaging 315.5 yards off the tee and ranks No. 1 in strokes gained: off the tee.

Schauffele openly acknowledged how powerful that part of McIlroy’s game is.

“It’s a nice thing to watch him hit driver,” he said. “It’s definitely a good property to be able to fly it about 330 yards on.”

That property is especially relevant at Quail Hollow, a 7,583-yard course where players use the driver on most holes. Schauffele knows that better than most. He finished second there in 2024, when McIlroy shot a final-round 65 to win by five strokes at 17-under.

"It was close for like a breath, and then it was an absolute disaster for me," Schauffele said of that week.

Xander Schauffele Carries Unfinished Business Into Quail Hollow Again

It was not just in 2024, but Xander Schauffele also finished second at Quail Hollow in 2023, losing to Wyndham Clark.

Rory McIlroy has won this event four times. Their most notable head-to-head clash came at the 2021 Ryder Cup singles, where McIlroy beat Schauffele 3&2.

McIlroy enters this week as a back-to-back Masters champion and six-time major winner, in strong form. Even his rivals have admitted concern about how well he is playing. Schauffele is ranked world No. 10, behind players such as Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Matt Fitzpatrick, and Cameron Young.

Schauffele will play the opening rounds at Quail Hollow with Cameron Young and Justin Thomas, while McIlroy is grouped with Matt Fitzpatrick and Justin Rose.

The 2026 Truist Championship at Quail Hollow Club is being played from May 7 to May 10. However, Round 1 was suspended because of heavy rain and will resume today, Friday, May 8, at 10:30 a.m. ET. Round 2 will begin later in the day.

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Written by

Sneha Abraham

Edited by

Sahil Prashar