2 weeks Ago By [email protected] (Felix Keith, Abbie Meehan)
Scottie Scheffler has revealed his perspective on Rory McIlroy's monumental Masters win - and admitted he quickly disappeared from the celebrations to let the star have his moment. As the 2024 champion, Scheffler had the honour of presenting the coveted green jacket to McIlroy at Augusta National and said it was "cool" to witness the Northern Irishman's historic accomplishment. The Holywood man has etched his name in history as only the sixth player - and the first European - to achieve the career Grand Slam, building on his past triumphs in the US Open, The Open and two US PGA Championships.
This milestone was a long time in the making, as it took 11 tries - over more than a decade - from McIlroy's last major victory at the 2014 PGA Championship. Following the nerve-wracking playoff win against Justin Rose, McIlroy admitted that the mounting pressure made for an intense final round. Scheffler addressed the backlash he faced for his demeanour during the jacket presentation as he prepared for the RBC Heritage tournament in South Carolina.
Critics suggested Scheffler's quick exit post-presentation lacked warmth with some even branding it a 'classless' move. However, Scheffler clarified that he intended to perform the ceremony efficiently, allowing McIlroy to bask in his well-earned spotlight. "It was such an emotional day for him.
I kind of just tried to stay out of the way and basically just get the jacket on without embarrassing him or myself," said Scheffler. "I got to watch the whole celebration. I watched the finish and it was really cool for me to be able to see it because I don't have an understanding of what it's like to be asked about the career Grand Slam, but I have a small understanding of what it's like to be asked, 'Hey, you've accomplished this, but you haven't accomplished that.
..' It can be very taxing on people sometimes.
"So it was cool to be able to see Rory get the job done and definitely from the outside it looked a bit more like relief than anything because Rory has accomplished everything in the game of golf and that was really the last thing for him to accomplish. "I mean, the guy's won the FedExCups, he won the Players, now he's won all four Majors. I mean, maybe the only other thing would be the Olympics is what he'd want to win.
"So it was really cool for me to be there at that moment. You know, he's a good friend of mine and to be able to congratulate him and to just see the joy in him and his family, it was really cool." Scheffler, who hasn't yet claimed a tournament victory this season, also had a word of caution for McIlroy: savour the moment while it lasts.
"The feeling you get from winning a tournament is a pretty special feeling," he said. "For me, I wish it lasted longer than it did. It doesn't really last very long.
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