World No.1 sticks up for his struggling rival as McIlroy struggles post-Masters glory

09:23, 15 Jun 2025Updated 10:22, 15 Jun 2025

Randy Smith (left) and Scottie Scheffler were at loggerheads on the range

Scottie Scheffler has stood up for beleaguered Rory McIlroy and admitted he felt like he’d been hit by a bus after achieving major glory.

The Northern Irish superstar has endured a torrid time since his Masters triumph and the completion of the career Grand Slam

McIlroy has also noted gripes with the media and lost his temper on the course with US Open outbursts during some out-of-character moments.

Scheffler admits he has no idea how his rival must feel having achieved a lifetime goal, but gave a fascinating comparison into his own emotions following victory at last month’s PGA Championship which backed up two wins at The Masters.

(Image: Getty Images)

He explained: “There’s definitely an aspect of having an achievement that you’ve thought about for a long time and then being able to achieve that goal. Winning a major championship in general just takes a lot out of you. I think physically and mentally it’s a pretty taxing thing to do. It’s really hard to describe to somebody that hasn’t really lived through it.

“I mean, when I woke up after the PGA Championship this year, I literally felt like I got hit by a bus. Like I felt terrible. And it’s just part of the adrenaline, part of competing for four days on a really difficult golf course, keeping your head in it for 72 holes, which is a long time, and just mentally it’s exhausting. Physically it’s a grind too.

“So if that’s how I felt after the PGA, I can only imagine how Rory felt after winning the career Grand Slam and it’s not easy to show up every week out here and play well. This is a very difficult sport. We play very difficult golf courses like this one.

“We’re all out here just trying to do our best, it’s a hard game and sometimes it can look easy and sometimes it can feel really difficult, but at the end of the day, we’re just showing up trying to do our best and then we go home.”

Scheffler, meanwhile, also addressed his tasty exchange with coach Randy Smith which caught attention at Oakmont.

Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy(Image: Getty Images)

The World No.1 didn’t hide his US Open frustrations after struggling on Friday and headed straight from the course after his media duties to hit a load of balls and work on his game.

Cameras caught an expressive Scheffler looking to have a feisty conversation with his coach Randy Smith as they sought solutions to the issues with caddie Teddy Scott in attendance.

The Ryder Cup star got something out of it as he stayed in title contention through Saturday with an outside chance of catching leader and mate Sam Burns to win the crown and back-up his PGA title triumph with a fourth Major victory.

Scheffler spoke out on the range-session after round three and explained: “Yeah, I would say in terms of a practice session after the round, that was pretty regular. We’re just trying to figure stuff out out there.

“To be honest with you, we left the range, I felt like I didn’t figure anything out. Just one of those days where just the swing wasn’t there.

“Randy had some thoughts for me that definitely helped today, but I’m going to go hit a few more balls and see if we can figure something out.

“Brooks [Koepka] made some comments this week about his coach kind of getting in his grille. When have you that consistency and you have long-term relationships, there’s a lot more trust that gets built up between people and a true friend is somebody that is there for you when you need them, but also they’re not going to just be a yes-man, they’re there to help you become the best version of yourself and especially when you look at a team.

“Randy’s job is to help me become the better golfer. Randy’s got a lot of other roles, but at the end of the day, as a golf coach your job is to help me become a better player and sometimes that’s getting in my grille and then other times it’s putting his arm around me and telling me it’s okay.

“I think when you have those long relationships like that, there’s a lot of trust that gets built up and you’re able to say some things that you wouldn’t really say in the first six months of working with somebody.

“In terms of just your development as a player and a person, I think that consistency with the people around you is really important.

“Sam’s got a coach that he’s had for a long time and you look at something like me getting frustrated on the range with my coach Randy, Sam’s definitely been in that position before and it’s just one of those deals.

“When you have the trust between people that you’re almost like a family; you’ve worked together for so long. I think that’s how his team feels as well. When you have the great relationships with people, they’re able to pick you up when you need to be picked up, need to be picked up, and then they’re there to kind of keep you in line when things are not going the way they should be and if your attitude’s a little bit off.

“I’ve had a pretty good stretch the last month and I felt well-rested coming into this week. Golf is a funny game, and for me to be sitting where I am this week not having really my best stuff I think is pretty good.”

Scheffler has a long road back, but said: “Around this place, anything can happen. Do I feel like I’m out of the tournament? No.”