Rory McIlroy reacts to Scottie Scheffler's Masters round with LIV Golf chief Greg Norman lurking

Rory McIlroy believes playing with an on-fire Scottie Scheffler does not add any extra pressure – believing if anything it benefits his own game.

McIlroy carded a 71, 1-under par opening Masters round on Thursday, after disappointingly bogeying the 17th. It is however his best opening round since 2018 and puts him six shots behind early leader Bryson DeChambeau.

However, World No.1 Scottie Scheffler was in his group and produced a brilliant 6-under display. McIlroy admitted it was hard not to see how well the American was playing.

“Yeah, I think when they’re playing with you it’s hard not to notice,” McIlroy said after his round. “Scottie does such a good job of – it doesn’t look like it’s 6-under par, and then at the end of the day it’s 6-under par. He’s just so efficient with everything.

“If you look at Scottie compared to the rest of the field, the amount of bogey-free rounds he plays and he shoots is phenomenal, and that’s the secret to winning major championships and winning big-time golf tournaments is more limiting the mistakes rather than making a ton of birdies.

“I made three bogeys today, which is fine out there in these conditions, but just need to tidy it up a little bit to try to keep up with him.”

McIlroy has never won a green jacket – the Masters is the one major missing for him to complete the Grand Slam – and will enter day two knowing he has work to do. But he revealed Scheffler’s score will not put pressure on him to perform Friday.

“You just focus on your own game,” he said. “It’s great to play alongside Scottie, who is the best player in the world right now, and to see how he is getting himself around the golf course.

Greg Norman spotted at the Masters

“In that way, it’s a good thing. When I saw the draw, playing with Xander and Scottie, two of the best players in the world, it was a nice draw, and looking forward to being out there with them again tomorrow.”

McIlroy was then asked if he was aware Greg Norman was following his group for a period around Augusta National. The LIV Golf chief was spotted yesterday a year on from his Masters ban. Norman bought a ticket to enter the grounds on Wednesday and was spotted chatting to PGA Tour star Min Woo Lee.

Asked if he had spotted him, McIlroy replied: “I did not. Didn’t see him.”

Norman claimed he is only at the Masters to support his 13 LIV Golf stars in action. Though he did claim he has received praise from patrons and security guards alike about the LIV Golf project.