Rory McIlroy's Advice Sparks Scottie Scheffler's Rise
Rory McIlroy may now have mixed feelings about advice he gave that seemingly helped world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler dramatically improve his game.
Scheffler's Career Development
Scottie Scheffler, who turned professional in 2018 and found initial success on the PGA Tour starting in 2022, truly established himself as a dominant player in 2024. After a 51-week winless stretch on the Tour, he broke through in March 2024, claiming seven victories that year, including his second Masters title.
His momentum continued in 2025 with six additional Tour wins, featuring triumphs at The Open and the PGA Championship. A key factor in this surge was a significant improvement in his putting.
McIlroy's Influential Commentary
At the 2024 Genesis Invitational, McIlroy briefly appeared on CBS commentary with Amanda Balionis. During this cameo, he offered his rival some advice on his golf equipment.
"So, I’d love to see Scottie try a mallet [putter]," McIlroy said. "But selfishly, for me, Scottie does everything else so well that he’s giving the rest of us a chance."
Following this, Scheffler won the Genesis Invitational by five strokes, emphasizing the impact of his equipment choice and putting enhancement.
Author's Summary
McIlroy's well-intended equipment advice may have played a subtle role in elevating Scheffler's game, illustrating how even rivals can influence each other's success in unexpected ways.