BBC US Open 2024: Rory McIlroy says Scottie Scheffler is guy to beat at Pinehurst and this is how to beat him.

In the eyes of many pundits, fans and even players, this week’s US Open is Scottie Scheffler’s to lose, and it’s easy to see why.

The world number one is enjoying the kind of dominant start to a year – with five wins in his past eight tournaments, including a second Masters victory – that has prompted comparisons with Tiger Woods.

“When you start getting compared to Tiger, that’s when you know you are in a level that is quite special,” said two-time major champion Jon Rahm.

Four-time major winner Rory McIlroy described 27-year-old American Scheffler as “undoubtedly the best in the world”, adding: “It seems like every time he shows up, he is the guy to beat.”

Bryson DeChambeau, the 2020 US Open champion, said “he is the gold standard”, while rising Norwegian star Viktor Hovland said Scheffler is “taking the level of consistency to a new level”.

“Scottie is doing incredible things,” said last month’s US PGA Championship victor and world number two Xander Schauffele.

Such plaudits across the board for a fellow player have not been heard since the days of Woods in his pomp.

After being told of the praise being heaped upon him by his peers, Scheffler said: “It’s nice to hear because I think we all try to bust each other up when we’re out there competing.

“That’s part of the friendship bond. You want to mess with your buddies, so to hear compliments is definitely nice.”

That messing with your buddies was in full swing on Tuesday at Pinehurst’s Number Two course, which is hosting the 124th US Open starting on Thursday.

McIlroy was asked if he regretted giving Scheffler the idea to try a mallet-headed putter to help with his much talked-about struggles on the green.

That was in February. He went on to win four of his next five events and was joint second in the other before finishing joint eighth at the US PGA.

“The only thing that [stopped] him from winning [the US PGA] was going into a jail cell for an hour,” laughed McIlroy, referring to Scheffler’s arrest on the morning of the second round.

Scheffler, who said “I don’t love reliving it, but sometimes being able to laugh about it is a good skill”, was charged with second-degree assault, third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving and disregarding traffic signals from a police officer. The charges were later dropped.

Eighth at Valhalla was his lowest finish in what has been a stellar three months.