Xander Schauffele makes Rory McIlroy claim ahead of The Masters
Xander Schauffele believes Rory McIlroy's current form is "motivating" for him ahead of The Masters.
Xander Schauffele has piled praise on Rory McIlroy as the Ulsterman heads into his date with destiny at The Masters.
McIlroy, 35, just needs to slip on the coveted Green Jacket at famed Augusta National this week in order to complete the career grand slam.
The World No.2 is attempting to become just the sixth player in the modern era to achieve the incredible golfing feat.
In the eyes of Schauffele, who has shuffled back to World No.3 after a slow injury-plagued start to the season, McIlroy has been playing the most consistent and best golf in 2025.
When pressed for comment by a reporter as to whether he found the current form of McIlroy and runaway World No.1 Scottie Scheffler as motivating or intimidating ahead of The Masters, Schauffele landed on the former.
Schauffele considers McIlroy has been playing to such a high standard of golf on some of the PGA Tour's toughest courses.
"Just motivating," Schauffele asserted of the form of the world's top two in the OWGR.
"There's so many guys that have played at a really high level, and luckily I've learned that I can play at that level.
"More motivating than anything else. They've been playing incredible golf. Rory has been playing unbelievably well this year with a couple wins already and kind of breezing through what looks like hard golf courses.
"And it's just what happens when you're a really good player and you put things together. That's sort of what happens. Luckily I was able to do that last year, and there's no reason I can't do it again."
McIlroy has won twice so far on the PGA Tour this season.
He won for the first ever time at Pebble Beach earlier in the year and then added a second career Players Championship title at iconic TPC Sawgrass.
Scheffler has been playing some steady golf of late but he has yet to register a PGA Tour title so far this season.
Schauffele is also yet on the board in 2025 but his start to the year has been somewhat halted by a intercostal strain and a cartilage tear in his rib.
The American enjoyed his greatest season to date in 2024 by capturing his first two majors at the US PGA and The Open.
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