Right now, there is no question who the two top golfers in the world are. Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler have created a clear separation from everyone else.
McIlroy’s win at the Irish Open on Sunday was his fourth of the season, but even with that, Scheffler has remained ahead in nearly every important metric this year.
The Northern Irishman celebrated his Irish Open win before quickly shifting focus to next week’s BMW PGA Championship. Beyond that, all eyes will be on the Ryder Cup at month’s end, where he will get another close look at Scheffler.
But if McIlroy is serious about overtaking the 29-year-old in the world rankings anytime soon, there is still a gap to close.
The 36-year-old golfer needs to be sharper inside 100 yards if he wants to compete with Scheffler on a regular basis. He showed some progress this week at The K Club, but there is still room for improvement.
After doubting his ability to challenge Scottie on a weekly basis, McIlroy may have a new perspective following his win in Ireland.
Rory McIlroy asked if he feels like Scottie Scheffler after Irish Open win
As expected, McIlroy was in high spirits when addressing reporters following his triumph on his home course this week.
Following his win at The K Club, he was asked the following question by a journalist:
“Rory, you said at The Open, I think it might have been on Saturday, that Scottie looks inevitable. Do you feel a bit inevitable yourself, like you’re bulletproof with the way that you’ve taken the chances that you’ve had this year and been able to put them away?”
McIlroy then answered: “I think the more and more you get yourself in these positions, the more comfortable you are. I’m not always in a situation like we had on the back nine where there’s three or four of us in with a chance. I always feel like I always put myself in those positions and be able to find a way to get it done.
“It doesn’t always work out that way, but as I said, the more you get yourself in those positions, the more comfortable you feel. I think the more experience you have, the more you figure out what is going to be enough to get the job done. I’ve played over 400 professional tournaments and I’d like to think I’ve been in contention in at least 25 percent of them if not more.
“So I’ve had an ability to try and win big golf tournaments, and I’d sort of feel like I’ve got experience to know what do when press and then conservative it’s just finding balance.”
Comparing Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler’s 2025 campaigns
McIlroy’s Irish Open triumph capped off what has been a fantastic 2025 for him, even if he still might fall short in the Player of the Year race.
In most years, his form would have made him the clear favourite for that honour. But with Scheffler producing another remarkable run of results, it feels unlikely McIlroy will get the nod this time.
Here’s a look at how their 2025 seasons stack up side by side:
| Results | McIlroy | Scheffler |
| Worldwide events played | 18 | 19 |
| Wins | 4 | 5 |
| Major wins | 1 | 2 |
| Top-5s | 7 | 11 |
| Top-10s | 10 | 16 |
| Top-25s | 16 | 19 |
| Missed cuts | 1 | 0 |
Scheffler’s edge over McIlroy this season comes down to his major titles and big event wins. Along with two majors, he also claimed a Signature Event title, a FedEx Cup Playoff win, and dominated at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson.
Even so, the Northern Irishman was not far behind. He will be looking to narrow that gap right from the start of next year.
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