Rory McIlroy has admitted he wishes he could be more like world No.1 Scottie Scheffler as he prepares to defend his Masters title at Augusta National next week
Rory McIlroy has opened up about how he “wishes” he could be more like Scottie Scheffler in a candid interview ahead of the Masters, where he will be looking to defend his title against the current world No. 1. McIlroy, 36, made history nearly 12 months ago when he secured his maiden victory at Augusta National, claiming the coveted Green Jacket and becoming just the sixth golfer ever to complete a career grand slam.
With the 2026 edition of the tournament just one week away, the Northern Irishman faces what is arguably a far more daunting challenge in his bid to retain his title — not only because it means repeating the same extraordinary feat, but due to the formidable field he will be facing. Among the 91 players set to tee it up at the 2026 Masters Tournament is Scheffler, who knows exactly what it takes to win the year’s first major, having lifted the trophy on two previous occasions in 2022 and 2024.
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McIlroy has acknowledged that their personalities differ greatly, pointing to his own inquisitive nature as a reason for pursuing certain distractions, but has admitted that he wishes he could be more like Scheffler when it comes to blocking out external noise and concentrating on the job in hand.
“He doesn’t have many distractions,” McIlroy told Fried Egg Golf. “He lives a relatively simple life, where he could live a very.
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“He’s got access to everything and everyone in the world if he wants it, but he actively chooses not to go that way, and I think that works in his favour.
“He seems to be of this mindset that whatever happens on the golf course happens, and it doesn’t make him any more or less of a man.
“I admire him so much for that because I’ve experienced this world where you can be pulled in so many directions, you have all these other opportunities that you can go and chase.
“And I have quite a curious mind, so I do go and chase those. But sometimes I do look at Scottie and wish maybe I didn’t have so much going on because it works for him so well.”
This year’s Champions Dinner will be hosted by McIlroy, as is customary for the reigning Masters champion, but Scheffler, who has had the privilege of hosting the dinner on two occasions, is resolute that he will stick to his own rule at the event.
The American said: “There’s a little protocol. Guys kind of have, like, I would say, sections where they sit. But you move around a little bit.
“There’s not necessarily assigned seats, but I’m definitely not going to go sit in the area where Tiger [Woods] and Jack [Nicklaus] sit. Like, there’s kind of spots where you kind of feel you’ll naturally flow into.”
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