Rory McIlroy makes brutal Scottie Scheffler claim: "We're all effed"

Rory McIlroy has delivered a blunt verdict on the PGA Tour Player of the Year race, insisting there is “no chance” he deserves the award ahead of Scottie Scheffler.

McIlroy, 37, believes the rest of the PGA Tour could be in trouble if Scheffler, 30, continues putting at the level he showed at last week’s FedEx St. Jude Championship where the World No.1 won emphatically by eight shots at TPC Southwind. 

Asked ahead of the BMW Championship whether winning The Masters and then the Tour Championship next week, while also claiming a record fourth FedEx Cup in the process, could put him in contention for the Jack Nicklaus Award, McIlroy immediately dismissed the suggestion.

“No,” McIlroy said with a laugh. “I’m not the Player of the Year. No chance. Scottie is.”

McIlroy watched Scheffler up close during the opening two rounds in Memphis last week and was particularly impressed by his putting, typically the main area of the game that separates the American from winning or not. 

The World No.2 joked that if Scheffler continues gaining nine strokes on the field with his putting every week, “we’re all effed”.

Watch McIlroy's comments here: 

The comment drew laughter from the press room, but McIlroy's underlying point was serious.

Scheffler was sensational at TPC Southwind, cruising to an eight-shot victory after finishing 17-under par. 

It was his second win of the season following January’s American Express, but his Player of the Year case is built on far more than his victory total.

The four-time major champion and current FedEx Cup leader has recorded an impressive 17 top-25 finishes in 18 starts, including five runner-up finishes, highlighting the extraordinary consistency that has become the foundation of his campaign.

Scheffler also dominates tons of stats on the PGA Tour, including strokes-gained total (2.374) and strokes-gained tee to green (1.694). 

Despite seemingly not enjoying a great spell on the greens prior to his demoltion display in Memphis last week, Scheffler still ranks third in strokes-gained putting (0.680) for the season, a further testament to just how good his overall game has been. 

His latest victory marked his 21st on the PGA Tour, and it hauled him to within touching distance of breaking Tiger Woods' longstanding career earnings record, something he can beat with a solo third or better at the BMW Championship this Sunday. 

Scheffler will go in pursuit of a second FedEx Cup next week, having won his first in 2024. 

Scheffler has competition

The race for PGA Tour Player of the Year is not completely over, however.

Matt Fitzpatrick has won three times this season, including a playoff victory over Scheffler at the RBC Heritage, while Chris Gotterup has also claimed three victories.

Cameron Young has added wins at The Players Championship and Cadillac Championship, while Wyndham Clark has the U.S. Open and CJ Cup Byron Nelson on his résumé.

That leaves voters with a genuine question over whether consistency or headline victories should carry more weight.

Fitzpatrick appeared to suggest Scheffler had already taken control, joking that “a certain someone’s sewed it up” after his St. Jude victory.

Ryan Gerard also highlighted Scheffler’s remarkable consistency, although he admitted another player could change the conversation by winning the final two events and lifting the FedEx Cup.