Rory McIlroy has something to admit after falling behind Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele in the world rankings

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Rory McIlroy is by no mean having a bad year, with his rivals Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele simply enjoying phenomenal years.

McIlroy is third in the world rankings, with American duo Scheffler and Schauffele ranked first and second respectively.

And that is a situation that doesn’t look like changing anytime soon, with the American pair in the form of their lives.

The trio are among the 30-strong field at the Tour Championship, with Scheffler having topped the FedExCup points list going into the event at East Lake.

He boasts a stunning six wins in 2024 so far, along with the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics earlier this summer.

Rory McIlroy admits being well behind Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele

Schauffele meanwhile has two titles to his name for the season, which came at the PGA Championship and The Open.

McIlroy also has two titles for the year so far, but the Northern Irishman feels he is well behind the leading pair.

“You know, seeing what Scottie and Xander have done this year – I’m third in the world rankings, but I feel like a distant third,” said McIlroy, as quoted by Golf.

“You know, they’ve had great years, and I look at my year compared to them and, I mean, it doesn’t compare.”

Can Rory McIlroy end his PGA Tour season on a high?

Scheffler is Billy Horschel’s Player of the Year, with the former making the cut from all 18 of his tournaments, with 15 top-10 finishes.

Schauffele meanwhile has made 20/20 cuts, with 14 top-10 finishes going his way in a phenomenal 2024.

READ MORE: All you need to know about East Lake Golf Club, the much-changed home of the Tour Championship

McIlroy could, of course, have shared in their major delight, if not for his nightmare final-round collapse at the US Open.

The Northern Irishman has missed one cut from his 18 competitions, with McIlroy clinching six top-10 finishes.

A strong end to the PGA Tour season at the Tour Championship is now on his agenda, but catching Scheffler is a near-impossible task.