Open champion Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy have become fierce rivals at the top of the world rankings in recent years, and they also share one major tactic in their approach to golf
Tom Sunderland Sports Writer
12:16, 27 Jul 2025Updated 12:16, 27 Jul 2025
Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler share a common tactic when it comes to winning at golf(Image: Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images for The Showdown)
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler has developed a compelling rivalry with Rory McIlroy following his meteoric rise to golf’s summit in recent seasons. However, the latest Open Championship victor shares common ground with his Northern Irish nemesis regarding one specific element of their approach to the game.
One week has elapsed since Scheffler dominated the field as the favourite at Royal Portrush and claimed his second major championship of 2025. He secured victory in commanding fashion, establishing a four-shot cushion over his nearest challengers, while McIlroy, who called his Open an “awesome week,” had to settle for a tie for seventh position.
Scheffler, 29, has justifiably earned praise for his remarkable consistency across the course in recent seasons. Yet it’s evident his relentless stream of outstanding performances stems from an unwavering work ethic, preventing him from becoming overconfident before crossing the finishing line.
“I’ve allowed myself to do that once in my career,” he revealed on the Pardon My Take podcast when questioned about whether he permits himself to contemplate a win before it’s secured. “It was at the Masters in ’22, and I four-putted the last hole [laughs].
“During the middle of the round, you can’t let yourself think like that. I didn’t really feel like it was won until you hit the ball on the green on 18.”
Scheffler shed light on the unpredictable nature of golf, especially in links play where “disasters can happen” in the blink of an eye. He’s not alone in his cautious stance; many top players are wary of getting too confident too soon.
McIlroy’s modesty was on full display when he won the Masters earlier in 2025(Image: Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
McIlroy, 36, has developed a formidable mental toughness through various challenges over the course of his career. The Holywood star, who joked about the location of his coveted green jacket with a fan at The Open, achieved a monumental milestone earlier this year by clinching his first Masters title, thus completing his career grand slam.
Sports psychologist Dr. Bob Rotella has shared insights into the mindset he aims to foster in client McIlroy. One key strategy is to steer clear of early speculation about outcomes, whether those be good or bad
“This is probably hard for some people to understand: I wasn’t ever thinking about winning or losing. We already were comfortable with the idea of winning,” Rotella explained to Golf.com while reflecting on McIlroy’s win at Augusta. “We already had peace of mind with winning. We were thinking about what we had to do on every shot and how we had to respond to whatever happens. And we’re going to just let winning take care of itself.
“It’s a heck of a challenge. And like I talked to Rory, the second, if a thought of outcome – winning or not winning – crosses your mind, you got to catch it so fast. You can’t get lost in those thoughts of outcome for more than a moment. You got to catch it. If you let it last a hole or two or even for three, four shots, it’s way too much. You got to catch it so fast.”
Scheffler is just one trophy from completing the career grand slam at 29(Image: Alex Pantling/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)
He further elaborated on his strategy to help McIlroy achieve the right mindset to optimise his performance. This involved disregarding any potential implications and instead concentrating solely on the immediate shot at hand.
“That’s what being in the present is all about,” he added. “But it’s doing the stuff you got to do rather than thinking about what this would mean for mom and dad, what it would mean for my wife and kid, what it would mean for all of my coaches and people around me, what it would mean – if you start thinking that stuff, boy, this game gets hard real fast.”
It’s hardly surprising two of the most accomplished golfers of their generation share such a rigorous mental approach to the game. However, it seems Scheffler holds the upper hand for now as he edges closer to his own grand slam, with just one US Open title standing in his way.
