Scottie Scheffler (R) has spoken about Rory McIlroy’s (L) run of form (Image: Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Golf sensation Scottie Scheffler has reached out with words of encouragement to Rory McIlroy following another disappointing finish for the Northern Irish golfer. McIlroy’s quest for victory was thwarted yet again at the BMW PGA Championship where he was pipped to the post in a play-off.
Despite a valiant effort at Wentworth, McIlroy was bested by Billy Horschel’s stunning eagle putt last Sunday. The four-time major champion has been plagued by a series of narrow defeats, including a gut-wrenching setback at the US Open in June and another dropped lead at the Irish Open earlier this month.
The 35-year-old has openly acknowledged the challenge that these setbacks have posed after repeatedly falling at the final hurdle. Nonetheless, world number one Scheffler insists that McIlroy wasn’t defeated at Wentworth; it was simply Horschel’s moment of brilliance that proved the difference.
Speaking at a Presidents Cup press conference, Scheffler reflected on his own experiences: “I think I played a lot of solid tournaments, and it was nice to get some wins. I’ve had years in the past on tour where I’ve played pretty nice and I haven’t been able to win a bunch. Sometimes in this game the breaks go your way and sometimes they don’t.
“You know like Rory’s had some close calls. He has a playoff last week, and a guy eagles the final hole to beat him, and that’s kind of a tough deal.”
“He didn’t lose, he got beat. So that can happen,” Scheffler added. “Sometimes the breaks fall your way, like Tom Kim and I in the playoff at Travelers. He did birdie 18 to get in the playoff, but then he made a bogey on the playoff hole. Just little things like that sometimes can help.”
Scheffler’s remarks follow McIlroy’s reflections on his recent performances, where he expressed frustration despite his good form. “Look, it’s golf and I’m playing well. These things happen,” McIlroy admitted. “Two weeks in a row I’ve played well. Just not quite well enough. The game is testing me a little more than it has done in the past, but that’s fine.”
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Rory McIlroy (L) lost out to Billy Horschel (R) at the BMW PGA Championship (Image: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
McIlroy is taking a breather following his Wentworth setback but looks forward to lifting his spirits by joining forces with his father Gerry at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship pro-am event in October. On the other hand, fresh from seven PGA Tour wins and an Olympic gold medal, Scheffler is eyeing victory at the Presidents Cup and suggested how better times could soon be ahead for McIlroy.
“Sometimes it’s an important putt or a little break here or there, and a lot of times this year I felt like I made the putts when I really needed to,” Scheffler recalled. “I made that 5-footer on 18 in Paris, made a bunch of putts on that back nine.”
“I made a putt to win the Memorial on the last hole. And back nine at the Masters, final round at The Players, I made a lot of putts that were not necessarily on 18 green, but a lot of putts that were important to keep momentum in the round going.”
“In years past, maybe sometimes those putts went in sometimes, but this year I felt like for the most part I made a lot of those putts when I needed to.”