Adam Scott shares what he noticed about Scottie Scheffler in practice round at Augusta before The Masters

Photo by Leckie Wong/Augusta National/Getty Images

Adam Scott praises Rory McIlroy’s vulnerability

Scott was also presented with the same task regarding Rory McIlroy, who isn’t playing this week but recently emerged victorious at The Masters.

He edged out Scheffler by a single shot earlier this month, successfully defending the green jacket that he claimed in 2025.

Scott said of the Northern Irishman: “The best thing, I mean, there are so many great things about Rory. These guys are playing at such a high level.

“I think Rory tells us a lot more about himself and his golf and I think the fact that he’s put himself out there, like to be vulnerable with his game over the last couple years, and he’s spoke on that topic a little bit, I don’t think he said it directly led to him winning the Masters last year, but putting himself out there and being prepared to fail a bit more, just generally putting himself out there is what impresses me about him.

“The way he’s able to take his lumps, but he also gets some big highs as well, obviously, he’s so talented, so the ceiling of his golf is really high. But I think that’s gutsy to do that.”

Scheffler and McIlroy have indeed been the dominant forces on the PGA Tour in recent years, and occupy the top two spots in the world rankings.

Hugely impressively, they’ve combined to win four of the last five major championships, disrupted only by J.J. Spaun winning the 2025 US Open.

In 2026, McIlroy boasts one win from his five starts, with his efforts made more impressive amid the back injury that forced him to withdraw during the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

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