The Rory McIlroy skill that is best in golf history as Scottie Scheffler waxes lyrical over PGA Championship rival
The World No1 offered gushing praise to the Northern Irishman as they get set to go at it at Quail Hollow
Impressed Scottie Scheffler reckons Rory McIlroy is the best in history when it comes to driving.
The World No1 offered gushing praise to the Northern Irishman as the pair prepare to lock horns at The PGA Championship.
Scheffler, like many stars during the day's media duties, was asked to pick a part of someone else's game he would choose to take if he had to.
As well as praising peers such as Sam Burns and Jordan Spieth for skills, he gave the ultimate recognition to McIlroy's ability with the big dog in his hand.
Scheffler said: 'You look at a guy like Rory, I mean, you'd be hard pressed to find anybody that has drove the ball better than he has in the history of the game.
"He might be the best driver of the ball that we've ever seen. You had a guy like Tiger, had a ton of speed.
"But Rory just has the accuracy is what sets him apart, too. Not only does he hit it really far, he hits it really straight.'
McIlroy's success this season is driving Scheffler as the duo get set for Quail Hollow and he added: 'It's always motivating when you just get beat.
"And in golf, you tend to get beat a lot. You don't really get to win that many tournaments and Rory's been off to a great start this year.
'He's definitely improved and made some changes in his game from last year, so there's always little things that I'm trying to do to get better and I think that's why I keep coming back.
"Golf's kind of an endless pursuit of getting the best out of yourself and I'm looking forward to continuing to do that as the year goes on. Rory's been been playing some great golf this year.
'It was really cool to see Rory be able to finish that off [Grand Slam] and to be there for that moment. He's a he's a good buddy of mine out here and I was very happy for him.
"Having to answer each year, for a guy that's had one of the best careers in the history of the game, and have to be asked about one single golf tournament.
"I'm sure it can be a bit frustrating. I'm sure that's why there was so much emotion coming out of him.
'It takes a lifetime of of work to to be able to even have a chance to win major championships, let alone win all four of them. It's pretty cool to see.'
McIlroy and Scheffler will be joined in a superstar three-ball on Thursday and Friday by defending champion and World No.3 Xander Schauffele.
The World No.1 said: 'I'm playing with two guys that are playing some of the best golf in the world.
"Xander won two majors last year and Rory already won a Players and the Masters this year, so he's playing some fantastic golf.
'It should be a lot of fun. I've seen that pairing before and we have a good time out there and it's competitive.
"I think when when I look back on my career, these will be some of the fondest memories I have getting to play with some of the best players in the world and compete to try and win tournaments.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
Murray leaves door open to coaching return
June 10 (Reuters) - Former world number one Andy Murray has left the door open to a coaching return after his short stint with Novak Djokovic ended without a trophy, but the Scot said he did not expect to be working with another player anytime soon. Serb Djokovic appointed Murray ahead of this year's Australian Open and said at the Qatar Open in February they would continue working together for an indefinite period. However, the 24-times Grand Slam champion then endured a woeful run of form and the pair parted ways last month ahead of the French Open. "I would do it again at some stage. I don't think that will happen immediately," Murray told the BBC on Monday. "I wasn't planning on going into coaching as soon as I finished playing but it was a pretty unique opportunity. "It was a chance to learn from one of the best athletes of all time. You also learn a lot about how to work with a team. "You're working with a physio, physical trainers, agents, and you need to know how to get your message across to the player and find out what makes them tick. "That was the thing I learned and something I need to work on if I want to do it again in the future," added Murray. Though they won no titles in their six-month partnership, Murray said he had good memories of his time working with former rival Djokovic. "It was a brilliant opportunity for me. We got to spend some really nice moments away from the court," the three-times Grand Slam champion added. "Results weren't as we wanted but we gave it a go. We'll see about coaching in the future but I don't think that will happen for a while."
Reuters
8 hours ago
- Reuters
Andy Murray open to coaching again, but not 'for a while'
June 9 - After an abbreviated partnership with rival-turned-client Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray said he has not closed the books on his coaching career. "I would do it again at some stage. I don't think that will happen immediately," he told BBC Sport on Monday at the unveiling of the Andy Murray Arena at the Queen's Club in London. Murray, 38, retired from playing tennis following the 2024 Paris Olympics and joined Djokovic's coaching team in November. They parted ways last month after just six months and four tournaments together. Murray, a three-time Grand Slam winner, said he hadn't planned to make such a quick transition into coaching after hanging up his racket. "But it was a pretty unique opportunity," he said of working with the 24-time Grand Slam winner. "It was a chance to learn from one of the best athletes of all time. "You also learn a lot about how to work with a team. As an individual athlete, you have a team of people around you, but you're the focal point whereas when you're coaching an individual, you're working with a physio, physical trainers, agents, and you need to know how to get your message across to the player and find out what makes them tick. That was the thing I learned and something I need to work on if I want to do it again in the future." Djokovic did not win any titles during his time with Murray. The Serbian star lost in his only finals appearance of the year -- in Miami, to Czech opponent Jakub Mensik -- and he was knocked out in his opening matches at both Monte Carlo and Madrid. "It was a brilliant opportunity for me," Murray said. "We got to spend some really nice moments away from the court. Results weren't as we wanted but we gave it a go. "We'll see about coaching in the future, but I don't think that will happen for a while." --Field Level Media
Daily Record
12 hours ago
- Daily Record
Inside St Mirren recruitment plan as "one-man band" hailed amid six signings bid
Manager Stephen Robinson is looking ahead to the new campaign after three successive Premiership top-six finishes. Stephen Robinson is eyeing six new signings for St Mirren this summer. The Buddies boss has outlined his squad-building plan following a third successive Premiership top-six finish. And he paid tribute to the efforts of head of recruitment Martin Foyle who he describes as a 'revelation'. The Northern Irishman insists the former Port Vale goal machine is a one-man band who travels the UK looking for rough diamonds. Robbo will be relying on his spy in the stands more than ever after a number of players moved on from Saints at the end of the season while Richard Taylor and Caolan Boyd-Munce turned down new deals at the SMiSA Stadium. The Paisley club would like to sign keeper Zach Hemming and wing-back Ryan Alebiosu on permanent deals following successful loan spells and have been linked with Jamaica international defender Richard King. And there is plenty more business needing done in other areas of the team. Robbo said: 'We need to sort the goalkeeper situation out. I believe we need another wide player, another centre-forward and another centre-half. Maybe two. 'We'll need to replace Caolan so we're probably looking at five or six players over the summer to bring the squad up to what's been lost. The club's policy is finding boys who are less well known. 'We want to bring boys in who are around 22-23 years who have maybe fallen behind where their talent should allow them to be. There's always something missing for that to be the case. Whether that's desire, fitness levels, whatever it may be. 'There are small points and coaching points you can help with – and you can give boys new motivation. We get a lot of pleasure from that. That's the model. In an ideal world, we'd then sell them on for a lot of money. 'We sign players we believe have a resale value, as well as boys who give us a real experienced, solid base to the team.' Robbo is grateful for what some may regard as Foyle's old-fashioned approach – and gave an insight into how it all comes together behind the scenes. 'Martin has been fantastic,' he said. 'He's been a revelation. He's a one-man band. We don't have any data or analysis. We basically have two Wyscout log-ins in the whole club that we have to fight over to get on and look at players! 'I have to praise Martin and give him so much credit for the relative success we've had. People sometimes use the term 'old school' like it's a bad thing. But there's a lot of old things that are still very, very good in this modern world. 'We don't have the finances to use the data analysis that Hearts, Aberdeen and Hibs are using. We don't have Tony Bloom putting £10 million into the football club. 'We have one scout. We do not have any other full-time scouts other than Martin. So, he has to go to every game. He has to eat in service stations every day on his travels. Most of my conversations with him are when he's charging up his car! 'He gets no help from anyone, really. We've got one guy in Australia who helps us out with bits and pieces who essentially does it for expenses. Other than that, it's Martin putting players to us and us making those decisions.'
