Scheffler addresses PGA Championship plans after McIlroy disagreement | Golf | Sport

Scottie Scheffler has disclosed how he utilised his downtime while preparing for the PGA Championship in a markedly different fashion to Rory McIlroy. The world’s top two players adopted contrasting strategies as they readied themselves for the year’s second major – demonstrating they evidently disagree on the optimal preparation for golf’s biggest events.

Following the successful defence of his Masters title, McIlroy took some respite before competing in last weekend’s Truist Championship. The Northern Irishman favours getting competitive golf under his belt immediately before a major, saying last year: “I really like playing the week before.” That is in sharp contrast to Scheffler, who has candidly acknowledged he isn’t keen on competing so close to a major championship.

So what did the world number one occupy himself with while McIlroy and numerous other rivals were competing at the Truist?

“I think a little bit of that is just studying, getting ready for the golf course and just making sure,” Scheffler said. “I’m just kind of going through my checkpoints. I had played some pretty decent golf over the few weeks leading up.

“So sometimes if my game feels like it’s in a pretty good spot, a lot of it is checking the boxes and making sure things feel the way they should feel heading into a tournament like this.

“There’s other times throughout the year where maybe I don’t feel as good with where my swing’s at, and maybe not hole a lot of putts. But overall, the last few weeks I’ve played some nice golf.

“So a lot of it was make sure I got rest, made sure I checked the boxes, and made sure things feel the way I want them to feel heading into a major championship. And just get the mind right to come out here and play.”

The preparation appears to have borne fruit as Scheffler concluded round one at the PGA Championship with a share of the lead. He was among the final groups out on a day when low scoring had proved particularly hard to come by.

Scheffler finished at three under, part of a seven-way tie for the lead that featured German Martin Kaymer, 12 years on from the last of his two major victories. A record 33 players sat within two shots of the lead, surpassing the previous benchmark of 28 set at the 1993 Open, with 12 major champions amongst them.

Notably absent from that group was McIlroy, who suffered a dreadful opening round, leaving him seven shots adrift of the lead and requiring a good second round simply to make the weekend.

McIlroy, chasing back-to-back majors and a seventh title overall, closed his round with four consecutive bogeys and five from the last six as wayward drives wreaked havoc on his scorecard, leaving him four over par.