After more than a month’s rest, World No. 1, Scottie Scheffler, is all set to embark upon the new season. However, he is soon expected to face fierce competition for his crown from his closest challenger, namely Rory McIlroy. To combat the resistance, Scheffler has upgraded to a new weapon in his armory, a brand-new Scotty Cameron T-5.5 Proto mallet putter.

Scottie Scheffler and his new toy and its implications

The 2022 Masters winner made huge strides last season with a Scotty Cameron-style club. But with a new season upcoming, Scheffler has ditched his faithful blade for a new putter. According to a report by GolfWRX, he was seen practicing with his new club in South Carolina during the off-season.

Read more: World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler Follows in the Footsteps of Greg Norman and Earns an Unwanted Record at the Presidents Cup

While an upgrade is expected to an already quality game, the change in clubs has seldom gained immediate fruit. None knows it better than Rory McIlroy, who had a terrible 2013 season after signing a major equipment change with Nike.

Rory McIlroy lurks behind Scheffler’s ranking

Scheffler is expected to contest in the first tournament of his season at The CJ Cup at the Congaree Golf Club. The competition features 15 of the top 20 ranked players in the world.

One of the many stars in action will be Rory McIlroy, who would be eyeing a redemption to the World No.1 rank in the early part of the season. The 4-time Major Championship winner will displace Scheffler at the top of the standings provided a few conditions are met.

The easiest way for McIlroy to scale the summit is by winning the CJ Cup outright and hoping Scheffler doesn’t finish runners-up. All hope is not lost if he doesn’t win – the former World No. 1 can still gain the top spot if he finishes solo second and Scheffler ends up outside the top 34.

By all means, it won’t be the end of the road for McIlroy if he fails to finish in the top 2 at the tournament. The Northern Irishman will keep getting chances to dislodge the American as the season progresses. On the other hand, it also provides an opportunity for Scheffler to increase the gap between the two highest-ranked golfers on the PGA Tour.

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