Scottie Scheffler has tightened his grip on the PGA Tour after leapfrogging Rory McIlroy to the top of the season’s earnings list. Scheffler’s convincing win at the Memorial Tournament on Sunday, where he collected a cool $4million, has catapulted his 2025 earnings to $14.6, edging him ahead of McIlroy, who now trails on $14 million. The American has participated in 12 events so far, raking in over $1m in five of them.
His Memorial Tournament windfall is his biggest to date, surpassing the $3.4m he pocketed at the PGA Championship. It also more than doubles the $1.8m he earned at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson and quadruples his $1m Masters haul. Scheffler’s winning mentality was praised by Sepp Straka, who finished two spots and five strokes behind him at Muirfield Village. “He loves competition, and he doesn’t like giving up shots,” Straka said. “The guy is relentless.”
Sunday’s triumph marks a significant momentum shift, with Scheffler’s back-to-back Memorial wins – a feat only previously achieved by Tiger Woods – underscoring his blistering form. This period also includes his triumph at Quail Hollow last month, solidifying his position as the one to watch.
Scheffler’s victory is his fifth title in a $20m event and his third win in four starts this season, equalling McIlroy for the most victories in 2025. McIlroy’s calculated decision to bypass Muirfield Village – reportedly to concentrate on the remaining two majors – seems to have backfired, both financially and competitively.
The Memorial, renowned for its top-tier field and substantial prize money, hosted eight of the world’s top 10 players, making it one of the year’s main arenas for prestige, points, and earnings. McIlroy’s absence allowed 28-year-old Scheffler to seize the limelight unchallenged, overtaking his competitor in the rankings while strengthening his hold on the world No.1 spot.
Meanwhile, McIlroy has been candid about his plan to organise his schedule around the majors, aiming to hit peak form as each tournament commences. After finally securing the elusive Masters title in April, many anticipated the 36-year-old to reign supreme.
However, his performance since Augusta has been inconsistent, leading to speculation about whether momentum is fading at a critical juncture. In contrast, Scheffler continues to rise.
The duel between Scheffler and McIlroy is far from settled, with the U.S. Open and The Open Championship yet to come. However, the current storyline is evident: one is surfing a tide of consistent excellence, while the other pins his hopes on his long game – in every sense – reaping rewards at the crucial moments.
This story first appeared on the US Mirror
