McIlroy acknowledges Scheffler as favorite for PGA Player of the Year
Rory McIlroy said he does not expect to win the 2026 PGA Player of the Year award, citing Scottie Scheffler's recent dominant performance.
Rory McIlroy told reporters he does not anticipate being named the PGA Tour’s Player of the Year for 2026, noting that Scottie Scheffler is the clear frontrunner. The comment followed Scheffler’s eight-stroke victory at the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis, where he claimed his 21st PGA Tour win and a $3.6 million prize.
McIlroy, who finished 66th in the same event, praised Scheffler’s form, saying the younger player’s consistency could dominate the season. Scheffler, a runner-up at the Masters and with top-five finishes at the U.S. Open and Open Championship, is now within $1 million of Tiger Woods’ all-time career earnings record.
"I’m not the player of the year. No chance, Scottie is," McIlroy said.
Scheffler’s recent successes include a win at the American Express Tournament in January and a strong showing at the PGA Championship, where he tied for 14th place.