Rory McIlroy Accidentally Created A Monster With Scottie Scheffler Comment

Scottie Scheffler is currently playing golf at a record-setting level, and he may well have friend and competitor Rory McIlroy to thank for that.

Scheffler began the year at the world’s No. 1-ranked golfer. He topped the PGA Tour money list each of the past two seasons.

But there was one glaring weakness to his game — his putting.

Scheffler was dominating the competition all while being a below-average putter on the PGA Tour. Things seemingly hit rock bottom when he lost 4.4 strokes to field on the greens at the Genesis Invitational in February.

That number ranked worst in the field among players who made the cut.

Scheffler still finished in a tie for 10th at the event thanks to finishing second in strokes gained tee-to-green and first in strokes gained around the green.

But he finished a full nine shots behind winner Hideka Matsuyama.

Rory McIlroy Told Scottie Scheffler To Change To A Mallet Putter

After the tournament, Rory McIlroy (who himself struggles with putting) was asked about Scheffler’s woes.

“I’ve certainly been through my fair share of putting woes over the years, and I finally feel like I’ve broken through and become a pretty consistent putter,” McIlroy said. “For me, going to a mallet was a big change. I really persisted with the blade putter for a long time, but I just feel like your stroke has to be so perfect to start the ball on line, where the mallet just gives you a little bit more margin for error.

“So, I’d love to see Scottie try a mallet,” McIlroy concluded. “But selfishly for me, Scottie does everything else so well that he’s given the rest of us a chance.”

Well, Rory, you probably should’ve just kept your mouth shut.

Scheffer made the switch from a blade putter to a mallet putter following McIlroy’s comment. He has played in eight tournaments since, and finished above average in strokes gained putting in all eight. He won five of those tournaments, including the following week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational where he finished fifth in the field in strokes gained putting.

Scheffler now ranks 71st on the PGA Tour in strokes gained putting. And while that may not seem great, it’s solidly in the top half of the 178 players qualified and he’s gaining strokes per round as opposed to losing them.

Couple that with his incredible ball striking (first in strokes gained tee-to-green) and strong play around the greens (14th in SG around the green) and you have a seemingly unbeatable monster.

Great job, Rors. Have fun explaining that one to your fellow golfers.