Rory McIlroy cracks Scottie Scheffler jail joke ahead of US Open

Rory McIlroy could not help but crack a Scottie Scheffler jail cell joke during his press conference ahead of the US Open. 

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McIlroy, 35, was asked for his comments on Scheffler winning five times in his last eight starts on the PGA Tour, and what has been most impressive to him about what the runaway World No.1 has achieved in 2024.

"Well, I haven't been on a run like this," said McIlroy, as he stifled a laugh. 

"The fact that the only thing that took him from winning a golf tournament was going into a jail for an hour!" 

Watch: Scheffler tells McIlroy wife story while in back of police car! 

A cracking line from the Northern Irishman, although it's not quite true. 

While Scheffler went on to finish T8 at the US PGA, a week in which he was arrested before the second round (charges were eventually dropped), he lost by one shot to Stephan Jaeger in his home tournament at the Texas Children's Houston Open at the end of March, and he finished five shots behind Davis Riley in a tie for second once again in his home state at the Charles Schwab Challenge in May. 

Aside from those near misses, Scheffler has been on a heater ever since successfully defending the Arnold Palmer Invitational and The Players Championship in March. 

He then slipped on the famous green jacket for a second time in three years at The Masters in April, before adding another jacket at the RBC Heritage the following week. 

Scheffler then continued an incredible run of form by pipping Collin Morikawa to the post with a one-shot victory at the Memorial Tournament on Sunday. 

McIlroy is quite simply in awe at his Ryder Cup rival, and believes his form is spurring everyone else on to try play better. 

Scroll down for McIlroy's comments...

"I think just the relentlessness," added McIlroy. 

"Look, a lot of stuff went on in his life, as well. They've just had a new child. He's been through some struggles in his game, particularly the putter that he's been able to turn around, as well.

"It's not as if he hasn't had his challenges along the way, or circumstances have been a little bit different for him. But yeah, I mean, the word that I describe it as is "relentless." It seems like every time he shows up, he is the guy to beat, and deservedly so.

"This run that he's been on, I think he's played 14 times this year or 13 times this year, only once out of the top 10. Seems like he's always in contention.

"The most exciting thing about last week at Memorial was when he made the triple on 9. Everyone was like, oh, looks like he might let people in here, but he finds a way to steady the ship, make a few birdies when he needs to. Undoubtedly the best player in the world at the minute by a long way.

"It's up to us to try to get to his level."

Elsewhere in McIlroy's presser, he discussed the dangers in setting himself a numerical target for major wins in his career. 

The four-time major champion is now coming up to a full 10 years since his last major title at the 2014 US PGA. 

World No.3 McIlroy will join World No.1 Scheffler and World No.3 Xander Schauffele for the opening two rounds.

They're off at 1.14pm local time on Thursday, which is 6.14pm for UK fans.

Scheffler is a warm 3/1 favourite on the eve of the US Open, while Schauffele and McIlroy are second in the betting at 11/1.