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Scottie Scheffler thinks golf rivalries have a twist compared to other sports.
Scheffler was asked the “personal jab” Rory McIlroy took at Bryson DeChambeau after the controversial LIV golfer’s two-shot penalty Friday in the British Open.
“I think golf’s different in a sense of a lot of other sports because my biggest rival week in and week out is the golf course that we’re playing,” Scheffler told reporters. “I mean, I could never stop somebody from doing anything in golf.
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“I felt like when I played basketball there would always be rivalries in basketball because you’re going to play defense against a person and that is much more personal in a sense like because I’m actively trying to stop – like if you and I were going to go out and play one-on-one, like it would turn into a rivalry because I’m actively trying to stop what you’re doing, but in golf, we’re always competing against ourselves on the golf course.
“I’ve never been a big fan of personal jabs. I don’t think that rivalry is a big thing in golf just because, like I said, my biggest rivalry week in and week out is the golf course.”
After DeChambeau was assessed a two-shot penalty for illegally improving his lie Friday, McIlroy thought the penalty was deserved and expressed his frustration that DeChambeau held the tournament up.
“As soon as he made the step into the ball, we all sort of looked at each other and were like, ‘That didn’t seem right,’” McIlroy told reporters. “When I heard that he’d been pulled in by the rules officials, I think it was obvious for why. I think there’s no doubt he improved the line of his backswing, whether it was careless or if it was intentional, it doesn’t matter, hopefully was careless.
“To hold the tournament hostage like that, and to have all of us, players, volunteers, everyone waiting on him to depart, I didn’t feel like it was a great look.”
The penalty dropped DeChambeau from 7-under par to 5-under and he ultimately finished the tournament tied for 14th.
