2026-05-14 10:33:29
Scottie Scheffler isn’t motivated by rivalry with Rory McIlroy.
The two players are seen as the best golfers on the planet but have yet to go head-to-head at a major championship, and Scheffler insists that he isn’t fuelled by the prospect of beating the Northern Irishman.
Speaking ahead of the defence of his PGA Championship crown at Aronimink this week, Scheffler said: “I would not say that it drives me. When I look over the course of my life, my sources of motivation have always been internal. I talk about my parents not pushing me to be a great golfer.”
The world number one says continuous improvement is the main thing that he and his coach Randy Smith concentrate on.
Scheffler said: “Randy has taught me my whole life but he’s never said, ‘Hey, you’re going to go out, you’re going to win these tournaments, you’re going to do this.’ It’s like, ‘Hey, let’s do what we can to get better.’
“I’ve always loved that part of the journey. For me, getting better at golf is such an interesting and fun thing to try to accomplish. You’re always toeing the line between getting better and getting worse. When I can go out by myself and practise and have something that I want to work on and improve on, that’s one of my favourite things. I love trying to figure things out. That’s always been what’s driven me.
“I also love competition. I don’t like losing. But at the end of the day the preparation, getting ready to come out here and play, is something that I really enjoy.”
Scheffler explained that he pays little attention to what other players are doing because he is so focused on his own game.
The four-time major winner said: “When I’m at home practising. I’m not thinking about something that somebody else is really good at. I’m seeing how something that I’m doing and how I can get better at that.
“I don’t really look for a lot of sources of outside motivation, if that answers your question.”
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