Rory McIlroy's Masters win has poked the bear in Scottie Scheffler

Telegraph

2 days ago

Rory McIlroy will doubtless face a journalistic inquisition in Canada this week concerning the controversies at the recent US PGA and his failure to tell Jack Nicklaus he was skipping his Memorial event.
Yet one question might vex the Northern Irishman more than any of these. How can he possibly stop Scottie Scheffler now that he is apparently back in his irresistible, if not inexorable, groove?
On Sunday night, the American made it three wins from his last four events when he prevailed by four shots at Muirfield Village. Suddenly his relatively indifferent early-season form – when he went an entire eight tournaments without lifting silverware – seems a long time ago. As, in many respects, does McIlroy's glory at Augusta.
It was as if that historic victory – in which McIlroy finally ended his 11-year major drought at the same time as becoming one of six immortals to complete the career grand slam – served to poke the bear.
Since the Masters – where he finished fourth – Scheffler has not finished outside the top eight, adding the Memorial to the Byron Nelson, with the little matter of the US PGA, his third major, triumph in between.
Dominance for win No. 16 🏆 pic.twitter.com/g1XtSuN0nh
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 1, 2025
In the space of six weeks, Scheffler has been transformed into the ultra-dominant performer who monopolised the first five months of 2024 – as well as the latter part of the season. McIlroy's fans must simply be relieved that he managed to don that Green Jacket while his rival was still shaking off the rust caused by a bizarre kitchen injury in which he badly cut his hand.
Only a fool would not have him as the overwhelming favourite for the US Open, which begins at Oakmont a week on Thursday. Should he steer himself into the winner's enclosure for the 19th time in the past 40 months – and with his length, accuracy and temperament, the Texan looks almost the perfect fit to cope with the demanding challenge posed by the feared Pittsburgh layout – then he would head to Royal Portrush for the Open with the opportunity to make it seven male players with the major clean sweep. Only Nicklaus and Tiger Woods would have achieved it at an earlier age.
Of course, these are big 'ifs', but such is his poise at the moment it is difficult to see past his candidature. Scheffler's countryman Ben Griffin was valiant in his attempt to turn a procession into a fight but, with a final-round 70 for a 10-under total, the impervious front-runner always appeared in control. It will not just be McIlroy among Scheffler's peers scratching their heads.
The £3.4million first prize was a ridiculous reward, but it says plenty about his staggering talent that it almost seems commensurate. With his national championship fast approaching, there can be no doubt he has thrown down yet another gauntlet.
As McIlroy hunts his sixth major title at Oakmont – and so draw alongside Sir Nick Faldo at the top of the modern European roll of honour – he could certainly do with a morale-boosting display at the Canadian Open, an event he has won twice but not, as of yet, at TPC Toronto.
If he gives a pre-event press conference, he will be asked about his non-conforming driver at the season's second major and why, for the first time in his career, he declined to talk to the media after all four rounds on his way to a tie for 47th, 14 shots off Scheffler.
He will also be quizzed about his decision not only to sidestep the Memorial, but more bafflingly not first to talk to Nicklaus, the founder and promoter, about this no-show. No matter, the result would have been the same.
'I love everything about Scottie,' Nicklaus said on Sunday evening. 'He reminds me a lot of the way I tried to play.'