May 9, 2025 — World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler has issued a fiery statement ahead of the upcoming PGA Championship, directly addressing his top rival Rory McIlroy with a clear message: “We’ll see who the best player is.”
Scheffler’s comments come on the heels of McIlroy’s spectacular start to the 2025 season, which has seen the Northern Irishman claim both the Players Championship and the Masters, completing his long-sought career Grand Slam in dramatic fashion. But after dominating the field with an eight-shot victory at THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson, Scheffler made it clear he’s ready to reclaim his spotlight.
“Rory’s been playing tremendous golf this year, and it was special to watch him complete the Grand Slam,” Scheffler said. “But any time you’re getting beat out here, you get fired up. This week, I was the best player. I’ve got next week off—and we’ll see who the best player is at the PGA.”
Scheffler’s win in Dallas wasn’t just a bounce back—it was historic. He matched the PGA Tour’s 72-hole scoring record with a final total of 253, tying the mark set by Justin Thomas at the 2017 Sony Open and later matched by Ludvig Åberg at the 2023 RSM Classic.
Despite the intensity on the course, Scheffler shared a lighter moment from the week, recalling a humorous experience with the event’s sponsor, CJ Group. “The food was really good. I had a few plates on Friday during the long rain delay,” he joked. “There were over 20 chefs out there working hard. One of them asked for an autograph—I wasn’t about to turn down someone who’s been feeding me all week!”
He added, “I had a lot of short rib, grilled chicken, spicy chicken, vegetables… probably too much spicy chicken, but it was worth it.”
With the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow just around the corner, anticipation is building for what could be a defining showdown between two of the game’s biggest stars. Scheffler appears locked in and motivated, and golf fans are already circling the date for what promises to be a thrilling battle for major glory.
