'I've played Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler - one is best golfer of the generation'

Tommy Fleetwood has hailed Rory McIlroy as the best golfer of his generation, suggesting the Northern Irishman's ability even surpasses that of Scottie Scheffler. Both McIlroy and Scheffler were in scintillating form on the PGA Tour this year.

The pair each enjoyed a stellar season on the course, with McIlroy breaking new ground by clinching an elusive Masters win in April, amongst several other victories and a Ryder Cup triumph at Bethpage Black. Meanwhile, Scheffler has continued his remarkable rise, winning a staggering six events on Tour this year, which included his third and fourth majors at The Open and PGA Championship. Fleetwood, who formed a formidable partnership with McIlroy again at the recent Ryder Cup, still backs his Team Europe counterpart as the better player, though.

"I still think, I've said it a few times, and I never want to speak out of turn about other players, I still believe from everything that I've experienced since I've been playing that Rory is the best of our generation. I still believe that," Fleetwood said.

"However, players do arrive, and it's hard to say anything to back against Scottie Scheffler. Now, if you were a betting man, I think it's very hard to bet against Scottie Scheffler, the way he's playing.

"Who knows. It will be a great debate. It will be great to see at any given time, because it does happen rarely, the best players in the world and in the World Rankings, if you get two or three of them playing absolutely their best game, it would be lovely to see.

"Very difficult question. I think golf courses do make a difference. Then I also think, you know, you look at, major championships are generally, most of the time I think they're a good indicator of the best players in the world.

"You look at the guys that end up at the top end of that leaderboard during a major, I think it always, for the most part, does them justice."

Despite Fleetwood's comments, McIlroy appears to hold a different view. In July, after Scheffler dominated the PGA Championship, McIlroy admitted that Scheffler's game represents the benchmark he and other golfers are striving to match.

"I wish I had been closer to Scottie going into today and been able to make a real push. But he's been on a different level all week and he's been on a different level for the last two years to the rest of us," McIlroy said.

"He is the bar that we're all trying to get to at this point, so hats off to him. He's an unbelievable player, an incredible champion and a great person too.

"None of us could live with what he had this week, but for me to be in front of everyone here at home and to get that reception up the last, absolutely incredible.

"I'll remember that for a long time. I think all you can do is admire what he does and how he does it. I think what he does is one thing, but how he does it is another."