“Not only his consistency week-to-week but year after year,” says Scottie Scheffler, highlighting Rory McIlroy’s impressive track record. McIlroy’s longevity in the sport is remarkable, with over 15 years of top-notch performance. His ability to stay healthy and adapt his game has allowed him to maintain an elite level, making him a strong contender for the Masters. With his recent wins, including the AT&T and the PLAYERS Championship, the odds seem to be in his favor, but one golf analyst begs to differ.
Speaking on the latest YouTube episode of Indo Sport, Brandel Chamblee expressed his doubts about Rory McIlroy’s chances at Augusta National. Chamblee believes Scottie Scheffler is the one to beat, citing his impressive scoring average of 68.2 last year. As Chamblee notes, “There’s only one person that’s ever had a lower scoring average than Scottie Scheffler had last year… And it’s not Rory, it was Tiger Woods.” This comparison to Tiger Woods is significant, as Woods’s average of 67.67 was a stroke and a third better than the next-best player. Chamblee also highlights Scheffler’s ball-striking abilities, saying, “Rory is not the ball striker that Scottie Scheffler is.” While Scheffler’s putting has been average over the past five years, Chamblee believes his overall game makes him the favorite to win.
Chamblee’s analysis of McIlroy’s game reveals some concerns. He notes that McIlroy’s iron play has been a weakness, saying, “He’s done a million things great, but it’s just not enough with the iron play.” Well, it is true, McIlroy’s iron play from 100 to 175 yards has been a weak spot, particularly when compared to Scottie Scheffler, the current world number one. While they are neck and neck in driving stats, Scheffler’s iron play is remarkably more consistent, making him nearly unbeatable in this area. His ball-striking is his superpower, and it’s rare to see him struggle with his approach play — the last time he lost strokes to the field in this area was the 2022 FedEx St. Jude Championship, a streak of 36 events spanning over 600 days. This consistency sets Scheffler apart from other top players, making his iron play a key factor in his success.
Chamblee also mentions that McIlroy’s swing has changed since his dominant period from 2011 to 2014, when he won two majors by eight shots. In fact, Chamblee believes that if McIlroy still swung like he did back then, “he’d have won another handful of majors.” Given the choice, Chamblee would “give the nod to Scottie Scheffler if they both play their best.”
February 2, 2025, Pebble Beach, Ca, USA: Rory McIlroy is seen on the tee at hole 17 just before winning the Pro-Am on the final round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am 2025 at Pebble Beach Golf Links on February 02, 2025 in Pebble Beach, California. Photo: Casey Flanigan/imageSPACE Pebble Beach USA – ZUMAi237 20250202_zsa_i237_119 Copyright: xFlanigan/Imagespacex
In a hypothetical scenario where both players are tied at 13 under and five shots ahead of the rest on Sunday, Chamblee thinks it would be “fun to watch” and a thrilling finale for the Masters. His tip for this week? “I wouldn’t stray from Scottie Scheffler.” But that does not mean that everyone has similar opinions about Rory McIlroy
Paul McGinley thinks Rory McIlroy needs a ‘stepping stone’ to complete the grand slam
Former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley thinks Rory McIlroy might need to win another major before tackling The Masters to boost his chances of completing the career Grand Slam. McIlroy’s been struggling to add to his four major titles since his 2014 PGA Championship win, despite consistently performing well in majors and winning titles on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour. “Eleven years is a hell of a long time for a player of his quality,” McGinley said, highlighting the unusual nature of McIlroy’s drought. With 21 major top 10s since 2014, McIlroy’s been showing glimpses of his skill, but the major breakthrough has eluded him.
McGinley believes the pressure of expectations at The Masters can be overwhelming, especially for a player like McIlroy who’s trying to break an 11-year major drought. “Going into the first major of the year and all the attention that comes with being at Augusta National, on top of trying to win your first major in 11 years, on top of trying to complete the Grand Slam, is a lot,” McGinley said. He thinks a win in another major might be the stepping stone McIlroy needs to overcome the challenge. “Maybe there’s a stepping stone needed first and that will be to knock off one of the three majors before he comes in here with that question taken care of,” McGinley added, suggesting that McIlroy might need to focus on winning another major before targeting The Masters.
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