Joining CBS in the commentary booth during the final round at the Genesis Invitational a few weeks ago, Rory McIlroy suggested that a move back to a mallet putter would likely pay dividends for Scottie Scheffler whose putting woes continued to dominate the narrative surrounding the world number one, despite continuing his imperious ball-striking from 2023.
Quite how much McIlroy’s comments played a part in Scheffler putting a TaylorMade Spider back in his bag will probably never be known, but he rekindled his touch on the greens and romped to victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational for his first win in almost a year. His last win prior to Bay Hill? Last year’s Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass, and he will return as defending champion, looking to go back-to-back on both the PGA Tour and at TPC Sawgrass.
If Scheffler’s return to form on the greens proves to be a lasting one, it’s bad news for McIlroy and just about every other professional, particularly with the Masters looming large and a heavy major season to follow.
And fellow countryman Paul McGinley, feels that McIlroy needs to start being more ruthless if he’s to get back on top and possibly capture that elusive Green Jacket at Augusta National.
“The competitors and the tough guys – the Raymond Floyds – you don’t see that in the modern game,” McGinley said while appearing as an analyst on Golf Channel’s pre-Players Championship build up.
“Everybody seems to be friends. And I think Rory is at his best when he’s got an edge, and he’s got those pointy elbows. We saw that at the Ryder Cup [in Rome]. It was no coincidence he had his best ever Ryder Cup there.
“The thing about Rory is he’s such a nice guy, and when he’s asked a question, he gives such an honest answer, but sometimes that gives an edge to your competitor.
“Tiger Woods was so guarded in that instance. He would never give David Duval a boost up and say how great a player he was, or Ernie Els, or Vijay Singh, his real contemporaries at that stage. You’ve got to keep the foot down!”
McGinley’s reputation was solidified when he captained Europe to a resounding victory at the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles, and he feels that the ‘win at all costs’ attitude players bring to golf’s premier team event is something that should be replicated week to week.
“Behind the scenes, there’s a lot of stuff that goes on, and we always feel that we have an edge but you never want to let the American team know what we’re doing,” he said. “And I don’t think you should be any different when you come out here on tour.
“Yes, you can be friends with them, but don’t give them an edge. Napoleon had a great line about that – [‘Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake’] – and maybe I’ve got a hard-nosed feeling about it, but golf is a very, very tough game. It’s a selfish game. I would like you to keep those little nuggets to yourself.”
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