PGA Tour star makes Scottie Scheffler admission | Golf News

Former PGA Tour professional Smylie Kaufman has come forth admitting he underrated Scottie Scheffler’s potential at the PGA Championship, attributing his oversight to Rory McIlroy’s scorching efficiency streak.

Despite being the world No. 1, Scheffler clinched a commanding five-stroke win at Quail Hollow, nabbing his third main title. Nonetheless, predictions largely favored McIlroy to prolong his victorious run following his Masters win.

In 2025, McIlroy has snagged wins left and proper, including at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Players Championship, and the Masters. Speaking on the Pardon My Take podcast, Kaufman owned up to virtually dismissing Scheffler’s prospects due to McIlroy’s formidable stretch.

“Scottie Scheffler, it’s absurd what he can do with a golf ball,” remarked Kaufman. “I think maybe most of us and members of the media were blinded a little bit by the Grand Slam for Rory McIlroy at the Masters, at Augusta National, and just how important that was not only for Rory’s legacy, but for the game of golf.

“Scottie Scheffler goes to the Byron Nelson wins by eight photographs, and reveals up this week and will get the job completed.”

“It did not ever really feel prefer it was going to be a five-shot win in the top. But there was a lot of drama that occurred over the final couple of hours that made it variety of a boring ending, but a very thrilling hour or two, not understanding precisely what was going to occur.”

Former golf pro and one-time tour champ Kaufman, now 33, who racked up $3.79 million before hanging up his clubs in 2021, initially joined the chorus expecting McIlroy to take the lead, only to witness him finish T47 at one-over-par.

NBC Sports’ commentator shined a light on Scheffler’s record-tying performance with a whopping 31-under-par at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, while shedding light on the victor’s psychological prowess.

“This man is a aggressive psycho. It’s unbelievable how this man is wired,” declared Kaufman. “But he is received this delicate aspect of him, too. This variety of emotional dad aspect that any dad can relate to, that at any second he might cry. You just do not know when it is going to occur.”

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“But then when he is taking part in and before he will get to that second where he will get emotional, he’s legitimately a aggressive freak. He never will get out of the zone. Often occasions when I’m out watching him on the golf course and strolling the grounds with him, I do know when to keep away or when he isn’t going to discuss and joke around. He was in the zone [on the final day].”

Hot on the heels of his latest win, Scheffler is gunning for back-to-back victories as he heads to the Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas. This time around, Scheffler draws the spotlight at Colonial Country Club following his runaway success leading into the PGA Championship.

Reflecting on his recent major win at the PGA Championship, the Texan golfer shared: “It was a long week. I felt like this was as arduous as I battled for a match in my profession. This was a fairly difficult week. The first two days, I didn’t swing it my best, and I used to be in a position to post a rating, in some way.

“Outside of the last five holes [on Saturday], that’s where I really kind of put myself ahead in the tournament. I mean, the back nine [on Sunday] was pretty special as well. But [on Saturday], the way I finished off that round, I think it was really important for me to have a lead to play with. I played with it a little bit more than I would have liked to. I think at one point in the tournament, I was tied for the lead on the back nine, but I stepped up when we needed to, and it was a pretty special week.”