Rory McIlroy has set his sights on catching up to Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele by 2025.
While the top two golfers have distanced themselves from others with their impressive performances, just how far ahead are they really? We’ve taken a closer look at the numbers to find out.
A debate has emerged about who had the better season: Schauffele or Scheffler. The World No.1 clinched eight victories, including The Masters and Olympics, whereas World No.2 secured two Major titles. McIlroy, ranked third in the world, could have been part of this conversation if only a few things had gone his way during a season filled with close calls .
Fans might wonder if Rory can bridge this gap soon.
Several missed short putts cost him dearly in tournaments like the US Open, Irish Open, and BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. These near misses could have easily turned into wins and added another Major to his name.
McIlroy’s Stats Against Scheffler & Schauffele
Despite being among the top three in overall Strokes Gained on the PGA Tour this year, McIlroy lags behind Scheffler by over a shot—though it’s worth noting that Scheffler was performing at historic levels in 2024. In 25 statistical categories, Rory finds himself third in 20 of them but leads in average driving distance.
Scheffler struggles with putting but excels elsewhere; imagine how many more wins he might have had with just decent putting! Schauffele shines as the best putter and scrambler while consistently avoiding bogeys—a testament both stats and eyes agree upon.
Comparing McIlroy’s current performance to his 2014 self reveals a drop in second-round scoring—two shots worse than Schauffele and three behind Scheffler—highlighting an area needing improvement for Rory.
In final round scoring too, he loses ground: one shot to Schauffele and two to Scheffler. This is significant if he aims to compete closely next year with these top players again!
Another critical area where McIlroy falls short is approach play; unlike his American counterparts who often get closer when using wedges specifically—a skill Rory needs more consistency in achieving regularly.
Perhaps these gaps explain recent swing changes made by him since data shows some catching up required against today’s leading duo on PGA Tour circuits!
What do you think? Can Rory close this gap soon?
