Rory McIlroy defends Scottie Scheffler amid lazy criticisms about World No 1's non-global schedule
Top-ranked golfer Scottie Scheffler has faced recent media commentary regarding his primarily domestic tournament calendar, with a published column arguing that the American star bears a responsibility to travel internationally as a global ambassador for the sport. Despite making twenty total starts during the 2026 PGA Tour campaign—which included three victories and nearly thirty-one million dollars in earnings—only two of those appearances occurred outside the United States.
Fellow competitor Rory McIlroy has stepped forward ahead of the upcoming Abu Dhabi Aldar Golf Championship to dismiss those critiques, asserting that players retain the absolute right to govern their own athletic calendars and personal lives. McIlroy emphasized that the top player's individual scheduling choices remain entirely his own prerogative.
