It may be too simplistic to table the US PGA Championship as a simple duel between the world No1 and world No2, but Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlory have been a class apart from the rest of the field in recent weeks.
Scheffler has won four of his last five tournaments, including a second Masters, while McIlroy has been victorious in his last two tournaments, his most recent on Sunday involving a stunning late charge to come from behind and win by five shots.
On the course, their build-ups have been similarly successful. Off it, the parallels are not the same. Since winning the Masters, Scheffler has been at home awaiting the birth of his first child, a son called Bennett.
The public announcement of his arrival came on Monday, shortly before Scheffler headed to Valhalla. “Welcome to the world little one,” he wrote. “Your mum and dad love you so much.”
His peers were lining up to offer advice. Tiger Woods said simply, “Get some sleep”, while Max Homa warned of the perils of “dad’s back” in repeatedly lifting up his son as he grows.
Expanding a little, Woods added: “He’s the No1 player in the world, and having a great, stable family life at home is important to having a great life out here on Tour.”
In contrast, McIlroy’s arrival coincided with news that he had filed for divorce from his wife, Erica, at his side for many of his triumphs, including last October’s Ryder Cup win, after seven years of marriage.
McIlroy made it clear on Wednesday it was a matter not up for discussion, but one would assume the news is an unwelcome distraction in a Major week. That said, when papers were on the verge of being filed, he was winning at New Orleans and then at Quail Hollow.
In addition, the 35-year-old has found himself surplus to requirements when offering his services to the PGA Tour board, which he had previously vacated.
Despite the rejection, he said there were “no hard feelings”, but surely that will rankle a little having done so much to be the Tour’s mouthpiece in the early days of LIV Golf.
The Northern Irishman often plays his best when he has a chip on his shoulder or finds himself backed into a corner.
Then there is the small matter of history. Valhalla is the scene of his fourth and most recent Major win, albeit a decade ago.
There, he fought poor weather and impending darkness to hold off the dual threat of Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler. It was unlike his previous three Major wins, which had been romps.
This time he was in a proper dog-fight and the manner of his win, and at such a young age, had golf’s commentators talking about a rewriting of the record books.
While he has remained one the of the most consistent performers since, the Majors have been a different matter. Before heading to Valhalla, McIlroy did little to dampen interest into either history or form, suggesting the stars were beginning to align.
McIlroy often plays his best when he has a chip on his shoulder or finds himself backed into a corner
At Valhalla in 2014, he was bidding for three tournament wins in a row and had just triumphed at Quail Hollow. The situation is the same 10 years on.
McIlroy and Scheffler will be arguably the most watched on course, along with Woods, who said: “I still feel I can win. I still feel I can hit shots. I need to do it on all four days, not just two, like Augusta.”
Scheffler got that aspect just right at the Masters, McIlroy not quite. Will Valhalla be different?
