Rivals Concede: “No Chance” Anyone Beats Scheffler for 5th Straight POY
Rory McIlroy Says Scottie Scheffler Is the Clear "Player of the Year" — Here’s Why Everyone Agrees
TL;DR: Golf superstar Rory McIlroy says Scottie Scheffler has already locked up the PGA Tour’s Player of the Year award. Other top players agree — Scheffler’s incredible consistency and recent dominant win make him the obvious choice.
What Happened?
Rory McIlroy (one of the best golfers in the world) was asked a question at the BMW Championship in St. Louis: "If you win the final tournament of the season, could YOU be Player of the Year?"
His answer? A quick laugh and a firm "No chance."
"I’m not the Player of the Year, no chance. Scottie Scheffler is."
— Rory McIlroy
Why Does Rory Think This? (The "Eye Test")
Rory didn’t just guess — he watched Scheffler up close for two full rounds at the FedEx St. Jude Championship the week before.
| What Rory Saw | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Scheffler won by 8 shots | That’s a huge margin in pro golf |
| He gained 9 strokes just by putting in one round | That’s historically insane |
| Rory lost to him by 15 shots total over two days | Even a superstar got blown away |
Important Point: When Rory says "If he gains nine strokes on the greens every week, we’re all F’d," he means: If Scheffler keeps putting like a robot, nobody can beat him.
What Is "Player of the Year" Anyway?
Think of it like MVP in other sports — but for golf.
- Voted on by PGA Tour members (the players themselves)
- Usually announced in the fall
- Based on the whole season, not just one tournament
- The final two tournaments (BMW Championship & TOUR Championship) are the last chances to impress voters
Who Else Could Win? (The Other Contenders)
Different players have different "resumes." Here’s how they stack up:
1. If you value MOST WINS
- Matt Fitzpatrick — 3 wins
- Chris Gotterup — 3 wins
2. If you value MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Wyndham Clark — Won the U.S. Open (one of golf’s 4 biggest tournaments) + another regular win
3. If you value QUALITY OF WINS
- Cameron Young — Won THE PLAYERS Championship (often called the "5th major") + the Cadillac Championship
4. If you value CONSISTENCY ALL YEAR
- Scottie Scheffler — Leads the Tour in basically every important stat:
- Scoring average (lowest = best)
- Strokes Gained: Total (best overall performance)
- FedExCup points (season-long standings)
- Earnings
- Top 10 finishes
- And he has 2 wins (The American Express + FedEx St. Jude)
What Do Other Players Think?
Matt Fitzpatrick (who beat Scheffler in a playoff at the RBC Heritage) was asked if he wanted Player of the Year.
"I think a certain someone’s sewed it up last week, if I’m honest."
— Matt Fitzpatrick (laughing)
Even the guy who beat Scheffler head-to-head admits: It’s Scheffler’s award to lose.
Rory’s Own Season: A Tale of Two Halves
| Early Season | Since the Masters |
|---|---|
| Won The Masters (career Grand Slam!) | Played only 7 tournaments |
| Was in the Player of the Year conversation | Zero top-10 finishes |
| Lost to Scheffler by 15 shots in 2 rounds | |
| Went home to Florida to fix his swing with coach Michael Bannon and caddie Harry Diamond |
Rory’s take: "I feel like we’re heading in the right direction… I just need to hit a ton of balls to engrain the feeling."
What Happens Next?
The Player of the Year race isn’t officially over until votes are cast in the fall. But the final two tournaments are the last big data points:
- BMW Championship — This week at Bellerive Country Club (where Rory made his comments)
- TOUR Championship — Next week at East Lake Golf Club (only top 30 players qualify)
Callout: Unless someone has a miraculous two-week run and Scheffler plays poorly, the voting is essentially a formality.
Summary
- Rory McIlroy says Scottie Scheffler is the undisputed Player of the Year
- Rory watched Scheffler dominate up close (8-shot win, historic putting)
- Scheffler leads every major statistical category + has 2 wins
- Other contenders (Fitzpatrick, Gotterup, Clark, Young) have good cases in specific categories — but not the full package
- Even Fitzpatrick (who beat Scheffler in a playoff) admits Scheffler "sewed it up"
- Final two tournaments could theoretically change things — but don’t bet on it
FAQ
Q: When is Player of the Year actually announced?
A: Usually in the fall (October/November), after the season ends and players vote.
Q: Does winning the TOUR Championship guarantee Player of the Year?
A: No. It’s a season-long award. But a huge finish could sway voters if the race is close. This year, it’s not close.
Q: What is "Strokes Gained"?
A: A stat that measures how many strokes a player gains/loses vs. the field in different parts of the game (driving, approach, putting, etc.). Total combines them all. Scheffler is #1.
Q: Why did Rory only play 7 events after the Masters?
A: Top players often schedule selectively. Rory may have been managing his body, working on his game, or just picking his spots. But fewer starts = fewer chances to build a Player of the Year resume.
Q: Has anyone ever won Player of the Year with only 2 wins?
A: Yes! Consistency matters more than win count. Scheffler’s dominance in every statistical category makes his 2-win season historically strong.
Written by Paul Hodowanic | 4 min read | Originally published on PGATour.com