Both have had outstanding 2025 campaigns, but over the last four days—despite The Open Championship serving as a homecoming for McIlroy in Northern Ireland—it was all Scheffler. The 29-year-old dominated his way to his first Open Championship title,

After Rory McIlroy's final round at his home course of Royal Portrush on Sunday at The Open Championship, McIlroy outlined what he respects so much about Scottie Scheffler.

The father's voice cut through the noise along the rope line at the fourth hole, pleading with strangers to let his young son glimpse the man they'd all come to see. For four days, similar requests had been met with shoulder shrugs and territorial shuffling,