McIlroy a 'scary' prospect after completing Grand Slam, says Schauffele
Rory McIlroy is a "scary" prospect for rivals now that he is playing without the burden of chasing a career Grand Slam, believes Xander Schauffele.
The 31-year-old became the first player since Tiger Woods in 2000 to win all four majors with his Masters triumph earlier this month.
It was his first major triumph since his second PGA Championship in August 2014. He also won the U.S. Open in 2011 and the Open Championship in July 2014.
Between 2011 and 2014, McIlroy became just the fourth player in a century to win four major titles before turning 25, after Jack Nicklaus, Woods and Bobby Jones.
And Schauffele, who finished tied-eighth at Augusta, said McIlroy's triumph was "incredible for the game of golf".
"Anything to get eyeballs on our game is a good thing, and him winning the Masters, a generational talent to do what he did, is obviously an incredible achievement," he said.
"Again, scary for guys like us. If that was something that was holding him back, and now he feels free, that could be a pretty scary thing."
Asked if McIlroy can now add to his five major wins, Schauffele said: "Yeah, I don't see why he wouldn't. He has all the tools, I think, when I look at his game and what he can do."
Schauffele added: "Would I be surprised if he started rattling some off? No. Am I going to be there to try and stop him? Absolutely."
Dreams do come true. pic.twitter.com/6WiHrVIjNl
— Rory McIlroy (@McIlroyRory) April 14, 2025
The American won the PGA Championship and the Open Championship last year, adding to his Olympic gold medal from Tokyo 2020.
He missed two months through a rib injury earlier this year, and is finding form since his return.
Schauffele feels confident about the rest of the season, and noted his own aspirations about claiming a career Grand Slam.
"It's something that's been written down a long time ago and something I think every golfer should try and achieve," he said.
"There's a reason there's only been six of them (male golfers) to ever do it. But until last year, it felt like it was impossible, almost.
"After a year like last year, it definitely lets a young pro like myself dream a little bit more again.
"It's something I definitely look forward to challenging myself to accomplish in my career. It'll be a lot of fun to try and do."