Rory McIlroy has once again expressed admiration for Scottie Scheffler ahead of the upcoming Texas Children’s Houston Open, with the world’s top-ranked player reciprocating the sentiment.
McIlroy has been delivering standout performances on the PGA Tour in 2025 with victories at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February and The Players Championship earlier this month. Despite his recent successes, McIlroy still trails behind Scheffler in the Official World Golf Ranking due to Scheffler’s exceptional 2024 season.
Highlighting Scheffler as a standout competitor this season, McIlroy acknowledged his rival’s impressive track record, where Scheffler clinched nine wins in the previous year, a feat McIlroy praised as one of the all-time great seasons in golf history.
Praising Scheffler’s talent and character, McIlroy commended his rival’s contributions to the sport and expressed respect and admiration for Scheffler’s achievements. In turn, Scheffler acknowledged McIlroy’s competitive spirit and noted the significance of seeking motivation as a top-tier player, emphasizing the positive impact of healthy competition.
Looking ahead to the Texas event, Scheffler aims to improve upon his performance from last year, where he finished tied for second. Following this tournament, Scheffler plans to take a break before returning to defend his Masters title at Augusta National the following month.