Former world No. 1 Rory McIlroy may be kicking himself after his advice apparently sparked Scottie Scheffler’s dramatic turnaround in form
Tom Sunderland Sports Writer
08:30, 08 Nov 2025
Rory McIlroy may have played a role in transforming Scottie Scheffler’s game for the better(Image: Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
Rory McIlroy may have inadvertently helped transform world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler into the player he is today. And the Grand Slam-winner may be slightly more hesitant in handing out titbits of advice to his rivals in future.
Scheffler, 29, turned professional in 2018 and started claiming victories on the PGA Tour in 2022. However, it wasn’t until 2024 that his game truly began to crystallise, and fans started to witness the dominant athlete of today.
After a 51-week run without a PGA Tour victory, Scheffler reopened his account in March 2024 and won seven tournaments that year, including his second Masters title. He followed that up with six more Tour triumphs in 2025, The Open and the PGA Championship among them.
Easily the biggest difference-maker in that spell has been a marked improvement to his putting game. And it was at the 2024 Genesis Invitational that McIlroy hopped on the mic with CBS’s Amanda Balionis, lending his rival some friendly words of encouragement regarding his choice of equipment.
“So, I’d love to see Scottie try a mallet [putter],” said the Northern Irishman during his commentary cameo. “But selfishly, for me, Scottie does everything else so well that he’s giving the rest of us a chance.”
READ MORE: Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler blamed by millionaire LIV star ‘eking out a living’READ MORE: ‘I immediately targeted Rory McIlroy after Ryder Cup snub – he’ll want to show me up’
Scheffler went on to win the Genesis Invitational by five strokes. After the competition, McIlroy joked: “I’m not going to give him any more advice, that’s for sure!”
McIlroy had experienced his own pick-up in form after switching from a blade to a mallet-style putter. It demonstrates the 36-year-old’s wholesome outlook and desire for good competition that he would even contemplate something that might aid an adversary.
Whether or not Scheffler heeded the advice is up for debate. But lo and behold, it wasn’t long before Scheffler did indeed start using a mallet putter, and his results have since skyrocketed.
The Texan’s ability off the tee and fairway has long been noted as world-class. But his production around the greens in particular has surged since the switch in light of McIlroy’s musing.
Scheffler and McIlroy share a healthy rivalry with one another(Image: AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
After finishing the 2024 PGA Tour campaign ranked 77th in strokes gained putting, Scheffler climbed to 20th in the rankings this year. Given just how dominant he’s been with woods and irons in recent history, the development is almost unfair to his competition.
The timing seems almost too coincidental between McIlroy’s advice and Scheffler putting the change into effect. However, Scheffler has denied the suggestion his putter transition came thanks to his European counterpart.
Appearing on the Pardon My Take podcast in September 2024, the American was asked whether McIlroy influenced his change but replied: “No, it’s something that I’d thought about, but don’t let the truth get in the way of a good story, right? My putting coach and I thought about it. At the beginning of the year I’d improved a little bit.
“But I still wasn’t where I thought I could be. I thought I could get better. It was nice for me to get out of my own head, look at something different. I used to line up the ball where I wanted to hit it when I was putting and it would kinda get in my head a little bit.”
Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
£49
£35
Sky
Get the deal here
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.
