Tranlate this title McIlroy admits Scheffler has been better despite his Masters victory in spanish

Rory McIlroy owns one of the biggest victories of the PGA Tour season, but he does not believe his Masters title is enough to make him the Player of the Year in the final vote.

The Northern Irishman successfully defended his Masters title in April, beating Scottie Scheffler by one shot at Augusta National for the sixth major of his career. That remains the biggest victory either player has recorded in 2026.

Still, McIlroy believes Scheffler has been better over the full season. The world No. 1 has been far more consistent, and his dominant victory at the FedEx St. Jude Championship strengthened his case just as the playoffs began.

McIlroy saw Scheffler’s level from close range in Memphis. They were paired together for the opening two rounds, and Scheffler finished those 36 holes 15 shots better than him.

Ahead of the BMW Championship, McIlroy was asked whether winning the Tour Championship could still put him in the Player of the Year conversation. His answer was immediate.

McIlroy gives Scheffler his vote for Player of the Year

“I’m not the Player of the Year. No chance. Scottie is,” McIlroy said.

He then briefly corrected himself because two playoff events were still left to play, but his opinion did not really change.

“Well, sorry, there are two weeks to go, but I watched him firsthand for the first two days last week, and if he keeps playing like that, if he gains nine strokes on the greens every week, we’re all F’d.”

Scheffler’s win in Memphis was his second PGA Tour victory of the year. He had already won The American Express earlier in the season, and he has produced top-five finishes far more regularly than McIlroy.

The difference is unusual because McIlroy owns the biggest title. Winning the Masters would normally put any player into the strongest Player of the Year discussion, especially when no other candidate has a major.

But McIlroy’s schedule has been lighter than normal. Outside of Augusta, he has not produced enough victories or high finishes to believe he should be ahead of Scheffler.

According to the season numbers entering the BMW Championship, Scheffler has 12 top-five finishes and 15 top-20 results. McIlroy has three top-five finishes and nine top-20s, with his Masters victory doing much of the work in his case.

Scheffler also came extremely close to taking that major away from him. He finished one shot behind McIlroy at Augusta after a final-round 68, while McIlroy closed with a 71.

McIlroy admits his 2026 season has lacked consistency

McIlroy’s year has not been poor by most standards. He won his second consecutive green jacket and sixth career major, finished runner-up at the Genesis Invitational and recorded another top-10 at the PGA Championship.

However, the 37-year-old has also had weeks when he looked well below his best. He finished outside the top 30 at the US Open and The Open, while his FedEx St. Jude performance made the gap to Scheffler particularly obvious.

McIlroy has also played less frequently in the United States this season. He has not even reached the minimum number of starts normally required to maintain PGA Tour membership, although his status is not considered to be in danger.

That lighter schedule was partly a personal choice after years of playing a packed calendar. Rory has spoken about trying to be more selective with where he competes and making sure he is mentally ready for the events he does enter.

Scheffler, meanwhile, has continued doing what has made him the most consistent golfer in the world over the last few years. Even without a major championship in 2026, he has rarely gone through a tournament without putting himself somewhere near contention.

His FedEx St. Jude win was the clearest reminder. Scheffler pulled away from the field for an eight-shot victory and moved into the BMW Championship with momentum at exactly the right time.

McIlroy’s comments also show how highly the players themselves rate that consistency. He could have made the argument that a Masters title should outweigh Scheffler’s extra wins and top finishes, but instead immediately backed the American.

There is still time for the picture to change. The BMW Championship is the second of three FedEx Cup playoff events, and the top 30 players in the standings will advance to the season-ending Tour Championship.

McIlroy still has the chance to finish his season with another major trophy in the form of the FedEx Cup. But when it comes to the PGA Tour’s Player of the Year award, he has already made clear who he believes is in front.