Scottie Scheffler’s comments about Rory McIlroy prove why they’re the best two golfers in the world

Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy are unquestionably the best two golfers in the world right now, and they have been for quite some time.

Scheffler has been the world number one golfer for 154 consecutive weeks now and has won 20 PGA Tour tournaments including four major championships since February 2022.

Meanwhile, McIlroy has won two consecutive Masters and is one of only six men to have completed the career Grand Slam.

Scottie Scheffler is a huge admirer of Rory McIlroy, and the feeling is very much mutual.

McIlroy just pipped Scheffler to The Masters title earlier this month.

However, the same happened in 2025, just before Scheffler went on to win seven of his next 14 PGA Tour events.

The American and the Northern Irishman definitely push each other and motivate one another to get better.

Scottie Scheffler’s comments on Rory McIlroy

Ahead of the Cadillac Championship this week, Scheffler sat down to speak with reporters at Trump National Doral.

He was asked to share his thoughts on McIlroy’s golf game.

And what Scheffler said was very insightful indeed.

“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,“ Scheffler said.

“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.

“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. If we’re playing the same tournament, we see each other a lot because we’re all doing the same things in order to get ready.

“So I think the players will have a greater appreciation when you see somebody like Rory who has had success over so many years.

“When you look at when he won his first major championship to now I think it’s been 14 years maybe. Maybe longer. 15 years. 2011 was maybe his first one. So that’s pretty difficult to do. So for him to still be at the top of the game for this long is quite impressive.“

Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy are the best for a reason

Those comments from Scheffler on McIlroy were incredibly revealing.

The fact that they’re the best two golfers on the planet by quite some distance, yet still both work incredibly hard on their games and fitness, is truly remarkable.

In order to reach the top level of any sport, you not only need to be born with a God-given talent, but you also need to have an incredible work ethic.

The key thing for Scheffler and McIlroy is that if they did not work so hard on their games, they would be overtaken instantly, with so many talented young players coming through the ranks right now.

It would be so easy for both players to take some time away from practicing, given what they have achieved in the game.

We’ve seen it happen so many times before as well, when golfers finally achieve their dreams and suddenly take their foot off the gas.

However, Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy continue to hone their crafts without a minute’s respite.

And that is why they have been the two dominant figures on the professional game for so long now.