Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy are currently ranked first and second in the world.
The four-time major winner Scheffler and 2025 Masters champion McIlroy have clearly been the standout players in recent years, though Tommy Fleetwood is starting to enter that conversation as well.
Both players have been mainstays at the top of the PGA Tour since 2021, and when they are comfortable, they are tough for anyone to beat.
Some believe McIlroy has shots in his locker that Scheffler does not, but there is no question about which one is more consistent across every area of their game.
The competition between them has pushed both players forward, which has been a positive for golf overall.
Scheffler holds the edge with more tournament wins, 19 compared to McIlroy’s 16 (across both the PGA Tour and DP World Tour).
The American also leads in majors with four compared to McIlroy’s one over that span. However, it is worth noting that McIlroy completed the career Grand Slam during this period.
Has Scottie Scheffler or Rory McIlroy been the best golfer since 2021?
That is not an easy question to answer, and opinions are bound to be split depending on what you value most in a golfer.
PGA Tour player Byeong An shared his thoughts on that subject during a Q&A session on his X account on Thursday night.
The question came from The Golfing Gazette’s journalist Tony Martin, asking who he believes is the better player between Scheffler and McIlroy.
Byeong An’s reply was measured, recognising the strengths of both.
“Rory is one of the GOATs. Scottie is the best player by far in last 4 years,” he replied.
If we are looking strictly at recent form, McIlroy has struggled to keep pace with Scheffler in recent years.
Setting the standard since the beginning of 2024, the 29-year-old has accumulated 13 PGA Tour victories in just 20 months.
The challenge for everyone else now is to close that gap – including McIlroy – because Scheffler does not seem ready to slow down anytime soon.
Comparing the PGA Tour careers of Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler
McIlroy and Scheffler have been the two standout players of their era, with a level of consistency that sets them apart from the rest of the field.
Both players have built remarkable careers, and their stats reflect just how high they have set the bar.
| Achievements | McIlroy | Scheffler |
| Events played | 273 | 150 |
| Major wins | 5 | 4 |
| Wins | 29 | 19 |
| Top-5s | 84 | 56 |
| Top-10s | 133 | 76 |
| Missed cuts | 32 | 19 |
| Money earned | $107,981,766 | $99,453,136 |
Scheffler’s rise has been quicker than many expected. The American is already close to matching some of McIlroy’s biggest career numbers, despite being younger.
For McIlroy, 2026 offers a fresh opportunity to close that gap again. It would not be surprising to see him bounce back strongly after a slower season by his standards.
No matter which side you are on, both players are at the heart of one of golf’s best storylines. Their ongoing battle is good for both the sport and fans alike.
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