Tommy Fleetwood believes Rory McIlroy is the best golfer of his generation - and that his ability even surpasses Scottie Scheffler's. The Northern Irishman and American were the two standouts on the PGA Tour this season.
McIlroy and Scheffler enjoyed a momentous time on the course this past year. The Ryder Cup winner broke new ground when he claimed The Masters in May and followed this and a handful of other PGA wins with victory at Bethpage Black.
Scheffler won a staggering six events on Tour this year, including his third and fourth majors at The Open and PGA Championship. Over the past campaign, three of the four majors on offer were snapped by this unstoppable duo.
If the two were to tee off one-on-one, then sparks would fly and Fleetwood, who paired with McIlroy so brilliantly at the Ryder Cup, thinks he knows who would come out on top.
"I still think, I've said it a few times, and I never want to speak out of turn about other players, I still believe from everything that I've experienced since I've been playing that Rory is the best of our generation. I still believe that," admitted Fleetwood.
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"However, players do arrive, and it's hard to say anything to back against Scottie Scheffler. Now, if you were a betting man, I think it's very hard to bet against Scottie Scheffler, the way he's playing.
"Who knows. It will be a great debate. It will be great to see at any given time, because it does happen rarely, the best players in the world and in the World Rankings, if you get two or three of them playing absolutely their best game, it would be lovely to see.
"Very difficult question. I think golf courses do make a difference. Then I also think, you know, you look at, major championships are generally, most of the time I think they're a good indicator of the best players in the world
"You look at the guys that end up at the top end of that leaderboard during a major, I think it always, for the most part, does them justice."
Despite Fleetwood's comments, it seems McIlroy does not agree. Back in July, when Scheffler dominated at the PGA Championship, McIlroy admitted that Scheffler's game is the bar that he and all other golfers are attempting to reach.
"I wish I had have been closer to Scottie going into today and been able to make a real push. But he's been on a different level all week and he's been on a different level for the last two years to the rest of us," said McIlroy
"He is the bar that we're all trying to get to at this point, so hats off to him. He's an unbelievable player, an incredible champion and a great person too.
"None of us could live with what he had this week, but for me to be in front of everyone here at home and to get that reception up the last, absolutely incredible.
"I'll remember that for a long time. I think all you can do is admire what he [Scheffler] does and how he does it. I think what he does is one thing, but how he does it is another."
