“He’s Relentless,” World No.2 Rory McIlroy Heaps Praise Regarding Scottie Scheffler’s Consistency Ahead of AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am

Rory McIlroy once again sang praises of Scottie Scheffler ahead of his title defense at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

“He’s Relentless,” World No.2 Rory McIlroy Heaps Praise Regarding Scottie Scheffler’s Consistency Ahead of AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am

Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler (Image via PGA Tour)

This week, Rory McIlroy will make his first PGA Tour start of the season. Ahead of his title defense at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, the World No.2 golfer heaped praise on the consistency of Scottie Scheffler.

Last week at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, Scheffler made his 2nd start of the year. At the American Express Championship, the World No.1 emerged as the winner and picked up his 20th PGA Tour win. He also joined McIlroy and Tiger Woods in the PGA Tour’s $100 million earnings club.

Fresh off that win, Scheffler experienced a tough outing in the first round at TPC Scottsdale. The 4-time major champion had 5 bogeys and a double bogey to finish the round with a score of 73. This saw him in danger of missing the cut.

He then proceeded to make a strong comeback. He shot a score of 65 on Friday, made the cut and kept his streak alive. On Saturday, Scheffler made 5 birdies and one bogey to finish with a 4-under 67 score.

In the final round, he fired 7 birdies and made a huge jump. Scheffler finished 15-under par for the tournament, one shot behind Chris Gotterup and Hideki Matsuyama, who headed to a playoff while being 16-under.

As the American international continues to dominate the proceedings, McIlroy lauded him. In the press conference ahead of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, he claimed that he is the first one dominating the fields like Tiger Woods did back in the day.

He shoots two-over in the first round and he just pieces it together again, finds a way, has a chance to win on Sunday. He’s relentless.

Rory McIlroy said regarding Scottie Scheffler

McIlroy and Scheffler have been two of the best performers in recent years. Last year, the two of them picked up 2 of the 3 major tournaments. After McIlroy won the Masters Tournament and completed the career grand slam, Scheffler won the PGA Championship and the Open Championship to complete three legs of the career grand slam.

The two of them will now battle it out in the first signature event of the year in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. McIlroy will enter the tournament as the defending champion, having won the tournament last year in a playoff round against his friend, Shane Lowry.

Rory McIlroy comments on debate regarding The Players Championship being the 5th major

In the past few days, the debate regarding The Players Championship being the 5th major once again came up. During the press conference on Tuesday, Rory McIlroy weighed in on this matter.

Rory McIlroy with The Players Championship trophy
Rory McIlroy with The Players Championship trophy (Image via X/@GolfChannel)

Last week, analyst Brandel Chamblee was in strong support of The Players Championship being named as the 5th major and called it “the best Major.”

Phil Mickelson would later respond to him. The 6-time major champion, who won this tournament in 2007, would fire back at this bold claim of the golf insider.

Amidst this, McIlroy was asked about his opinion on this. The North Irishman, who won this event last year in a playoff round on Monday, claimed that the event does not need to be something else.

I think The Players is one of the best golf tournaments in the world. I don’t think anyone disputes that or argues that… But it’s The Players. Like it doesn’t need to be anything else. Like I would say it’s got more of an identity than the PGA Championship does at the minute.

Rory McIlroy said regarding The Players Championship

McIlroy also stated that the PGA Championship should be moved back to August. At the moment, this event is played in May as the second major event of the year after the Masters Tournament at the Augusta National in April.

Last year, McIlroy became just the 8th different player to win this tournament on more than one occasion. He defeated J.J. Spaun in a playoff round to clinch his 2nd win. His first triumph came in 2019. He will be hoping to defend that title in March.

Before that, the 36-year-old has to defend his title at the Pebble Beach as he prepares to tee off for the first time this year on the PGA Tour.

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