Scottie Scheffler is ranked No. 1 in the world, but Rory McIlroy continues to be No. 1 with the golf fan.

When McIlroy talks, plays or wins, the golf world pays attention.

That was evident last week at Pebble Beach Golf Links. McIlroy was the story as he overpowered the famous course and won the PGA Tour’s first big event of the year by two shots. He shot 65 Saturday in rainy and windy conditions before following it up with a 66 Sunday.

And people watched his dominant performance.

The final round Sunday drew over 3.3 million viewers on CBS. It was the biggest final round audience for the PGA Tour on any network since last March’s Players Championship won by Scheffler.

“I always say I believe when players like Rory McIlroy turns up and they have their ‘A’ game, they’re pretty impossible to beat,” Shane Lowry, who is a friend of McIlroy and played with him Sunday, told reporters after.

McIlroy’s stardom was on display last August at the BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club. While never really in contention at the event, McIlroy drew giant crowds on the course and the driving range as he crushed 375-yard drives over the net. 

His play is not the only important appeal to golf fans. When the 4-time major champion talks, people listen and take notice.

The topic of venues has been hot on the PGA Tour. When the tour is playing at a course like Pebble Beach or, of course, Augusta National for The Masters, people tune in. And those tournaments have strong fields.

The best players in the world on the best courses equals a great viewing experience.

“I think really good venues are a big part of the storyline,” McIlroy told reporters after his third round. “When we go to major championships, especially a U.S. Open and an Open Championship, I always feel like the golf course is a big part of the storyline heading into Thursday. Sometimes on the PGA Tour, that isn’t the case because whether you play a run-of-the-mill TPC or whatever it is, it just isn’t that interesting.”

How much did the combo of McIlroy contending and the beauty of Pebble Beach imfluence the high viewership? That number of over 3 million viewers says it was a lot.

It has been 10 years since McIlroy took home a major championship — a long time for one of the best players in the world. In his last two close calls, the 2022 Open Championship won by Cameron Smith and the 2024 U.S. Open won by Bryson DeChambeau, McIlroy was a bigger story than the winner. Especially him blowing the lead at Pinehurst.

Scheffler is clearly the best player in the world and a magician on the course. Even McIlroy himself has mentioned how great and smart Scheffler is on the course and how McIlroy needs to play more like him.

But Scheffler doesn’t move the needle like McIlroy. It is not Tiger Woods level, but it is close. That’s why the two of them are driving and trying to make the TGL popular.

McIlroy has said winning majors is still the most important thing to him. He only needs The Masters to claim the career grand slam. And it’s clear, if he is in contention, people will be watching.

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DU’s Emma Bryant opens season strong in Florida

University of Denver golfer Emma Bryant fired three rounds under part including a first-round 67 to finish in second place at the FAU Paradise Invitational in Boca Raton, Florida.

The Pioneers finished seventh as a team in their first tournament of the season. Bryant, an Eaglecrest High graduate, had 11 birdies and just three bogeys over the three days in Florida.

DU is the favorite in the Summit League going into the season.

Her brother, Davis Bryant, plays on the DP World Tour and will be part of the field at the Qatar Masters this week. He also took the Colorado Open title last summer.

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What they’re saying

“I’ve never — this is anyone, this is Tiger, this is in the history of golf — I don’t think I’ve ever seen a golfer play as many bogey-free rounds as Scottie.”

—McIlroy said of competing with Scheffler

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Skins game

Odds to win the WM Phoenix Open

Scottie Scheffler +280

Justin Thomas +1400

Hideki Matsuyama +1600

Sungae Im +2200

Sam Burns +3500

Tom Kim +3300

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This week in golf

PGA Tour

WM PHOENIX OPEN

Site: Scottsdale, Ariz.

Course: TPC Scottsdale. Yardage: 7,261. Par: 71.

Prize money: $9.2 million. Winner’s share: $1.656 million.

Television: Thursday-Friday, 2-6 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. (Golf), 1-4:30 p.m. (CBS); Sunday, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. (Golf), 1-4 p.m. (CBS).

Defending champion: Nick Taylor.

LPGA Tour

FOUNDERS CUP

Site: Bradenton, Fla.

Course: Bradenton CC. Yardage: 6,465. Par: 71.

Prize money: $2 million. Winner’s share: $300,000.

Television: Thursday-Friday, 9 a.m.-Noon (Golf); Saturday-Sunday, Noon-1 p.m. (NBC Sports app), 1-3 p.m. (Golf).

Defending champions: Rose Zhang (tournament), Nelly Korda (course).

LIV Golf League

LIV GOLF RIYADH

Site: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Course: Riyadh GC. Yardage: 7,464. Par: 72.

Prize money: $20 million. Winner’s share: $4 million.

Television: Thursday-Friday, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. (FS2); Saturday, 8-10a.m. (FS1), 10 a.m.-1 p.m. (FS2).

Defending champion: Joaquin Niemann.

European tour

COMMERCIAL BANK QATAR MASTERS

Site: Doha, Qatar.

Course: Doha GC. Yardage: 7,508. Par: 72.

Prize money: $2.5 million. Winner’s share: $416,667.

Television: Thursday-Friday, 2-6 a.m. (Golf), 6-7 a.m. (NBC Sports app); Saturday, 2:30-6 a.m. (Golf), 6-7 a.m. (NBC Sports app); Sunday, 1:30-6:30 a.m. (Golf).

Defending champion: Rikuya Hoshino.

PGA Tour Champions

TROPHY HASSAN II

Site: Rabat, Morocco.

Course: Royal Golf Dar Es Salam. Yardage: 7,349. Par: 73.

Prize money: $2.5 million. Winner’s share: $400,000.

Television: Thursday-Saturday, 6-9 a.m. (Golf Channel).

Defending champion: Ricardo Gonzalez.

Korn Ferry Tour

ASTARA GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP

Site: Bogota, Colombia.

Course: Bogota CC (Lagos). Yardage: 7,237. Par: 71.

Prize money: $1 million. Winner’s share: $180,000.

Television: None.

Previous winner: Kevin Velo.