Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler. (Image: Getty/Golf Digest)
World No.1 hit back humorously at after . Scheffler is set to play for the first time in 2025 this week when he competes at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
It follows the American undergoing surgery after .
Scheffler was rolling ravioli dough with a wine glass when it shattered and punctured his right palm, forcing him to miss his first two scheduled tournaments of the season.
On Wednesday, the 28-year-old faced the media before his opening round in California and addressed his rival’s comments. “Rory was in here saying he thinks maybe you should get a chef. Given the injury, is there any thought toward that?” he was asked.
Scheffler briefly chuckled and then paused before delivering his riposte, saying: “I got a chef,” he said. “Her name is Meredith. She’s pretty cute.”
The star was, of course, referring to his wife Meredith Scudder. The childhood sweethearts met in high school and married in 2020, and in May last year their first child, Bennett, was born.
Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy celebrate their win in The Match. (Image: Getty)
The two-time champion did strike a more serious tone, though, when asked of his injury. “Not at all,” he said. It’s one of those deals where immediately after it happened, I was mad at myself.
“It really wasn’t terrible, but I knew I kind of messed something up just because the way my hand wasn’t really moving much and if I did move it, it hurt pretty badly. So I kind of knew something was up.”
Scheffler also confirmed he had not scheduled any extra events in order to make up for his lay-off. His quest for a third green jacket at Augusta doesn’t get underway until April 10, a period he believes is ample time to prepare himself.
As well as claiming his second major title in 2024, Scheffler also won in Paris and the FedEx Finals for the first time. And despite the recent back-and-forth with McIlroy, the pair’s friendship was underlined in December when they teamed up for the one-off ‘The Match’ event.
In what was billed as a showdown between the and , they took on and in an innovative match-play format. And under floodlights at Shadow Creek Golf Course in Las Vegas, it was McIlroy and Scheffler who comfortably prevailed.