Scheffler denies Rory McIlroy claims amid upsurge in form after PGA Tour rival’s comments

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler has firmly refuted any suggestions that his impressive putting performance in 2024 is a direct result of advice from Rory McIlroy. Scheffler, 28, has had an extraordinary year, achieving significant milestones including winning the Masters, securing a gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, and clinching the Tour Championship, which earned him £19 million. His remarkable season has propelled his total earnings for the year to an astounding £41.2 million, with seven victories on the PGA Tour.

Scheffler’s putting game, a crucial aspect of his success, saw a notable shift in 2024. He transitioned from using a Scotty Cameron Timeless Tourtype GSS putter—a model with which he won six PGA Tour titles the previous year—to a TaylorMade Spider Tour X putter. This change occurred after McIlroy suggested at the Genesis Invitational in February that Scheffler experiment with a mallet-style putter.

The impact of this advice was evident when Scheffler, with the new Spider putter in his bag, went on to win the Genesis Invitational by a commanding five strokes. McIlroy, in a light-hearted remark after Scheffler’s victory, joked, “I’m not going to give him any more advice, that’s for sure!” This comment led to speculation that Scheffler’s switch to the TaylorMade putter was directly influenced by McIlroy’s recommendation.

However, Scheffler has been clear in denying these rumors. During an appearance on the Pardon My Take podcast, Scheffler addressed the question of whether McIlroy’s advice played a role in his decision to change putters. Scheffler stated, “No, it’s something that I’d thought about, but don’t let the truth get in the way of a good story, right?” He elaborated that the decision to switch putters was a personal one, made in consultation with his putting coach.

Scheffler explained that he had been considering the change for some time, as he felt his putting could still be improved. He noted that although he had made some progress at the beginning of the year, he was still not where he wanted to be. “I thought I could get better,” Scheffler said. “It was nice for me to get out of my own head, look at something different. I used to line up the ball where I wanted to hit it when I was putting and it would kinda get in my head a little bit.”

McIlroy himself had downplayed the significance of his advice in March, stating, “It’s very hard to talk about other players. Scottie has had enough criticism about his putting—you guys talk about it enough. It was me, basically, trying to talk about myself more than talk about Scottie.”

While Scheffler’s 2024 season has been marked by exceptional achievements, McIlroy’s wait for another Major victory continues. Despite this, McIlroy managed to secure one title on the PGA Tour and another on the European Tour during the year.