Rory McIlroy informed what he’s so much worse at than Scottie Scheffler as he’s encouraged to copy Tiger Woods

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Sky Sports Golf pundit Paul McGinley has highlighted one area where Rory McIlroy must improve if he’s to end his long wait for major number five.

McIlroy is set to reduce his schedule in 2025 as the Northern Irishman shifts his focus to ending his barren run in golf’s four most important events.

McIlroy has also made swing changes in recent weeks as he seeks to fine-tune his game to cope with the most pressurised situations. McGinley, however, has highlighted a weakness that isn’t related to the 35-year-old’s technique.

Rory McIlroy’s concentration discussed

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McGinley, speaking to Sky Sports at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, believes McIlroy must work on his concentration.

“Why he didn’t win the US Open is not because his technique deserted him at the end, it’s because he lost his concentration and if I am going to say the one thing that I think he is missing more than anything else and where he loses ground over the likes of Scottie Scheffler is because he doesn’t have the same intensity and concentration levels for 72 holes that Xander and Scottie can produce,” McGinley said.

“And winning tournaments is a marathon, not a sprint, as Tiger Woods used to say – another guy who was brilliant at staying on it and not losing concentration or having a slack six holes or a slack shot at the wrong time, which costs you a double bogey.”

McGinley continued: “All those little drops in concentration add up, and if you look at his performances, they are very consistent. The difference between seven times, as Scottie Scheffler has done, and winning three times, as Rory has done, boils down to a couple of shots at the right time in a tournament.

“I would like to see him coming out of the blocks quicker and getting control of tournaments after 54 holes and then racing to victory; that’s how Tiger Woods won most of his tournaments. Nearly 95% of the events Tiger Woods won he was leading after three rounds, McIlroy doesn’t lead enough after three rounds.”

Rory McIlroy’s concentration will be tested in 2025

The reason McIlroy’s game is constantly under scrutiny is because of how frequently he finds himself in contention.

McIlroy could’ve won three events during the autumnal stretch of the DP World Tour season after finishing second at the BMW PGA Championship and Irish Open. Furthermore, the Northern Irishman made a late charge at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship last weekend.

Even McIlroy’s recent major championship performances make for pretty good reading. The Northern Irishman has finished runner-up the past two years at the US Open. McIlroy has also placed inside the top ten in four of his last eight majors.

However, as 2025 rolls around, McIlroy’s concentration will once again be tested. The PGA Championship is set to take place at Quail Hollow, a venue the Northern Irishman loves. The Open returning to Royal Portrush also provides McIlroy with a glorious chance to win on home soil.

The metaphorical stage feels like it’s been set for the 35-year-old; it’s now up to McIlroy’s technique and concentration to withstand the rigours of major championship golf.