The Fried Egg Golf Podcast Scottie or Rory's Year? Answering the Biggest Questions from 2025
Dec 3, 2025
Joining the discussion are Joseph LaMagna, a golf writer known for his insightful season analysis, and Kevin Van Valkenburg, a seasoned pro golf analyst. They delve into the heated debate between Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy for Player of the Year. The importance of Ryder Cup performances is highlighted, alongside a look at emerging stars like Ludvig Åberg and Victor Hovland. The trio also anticipates the 2026 majors and shares heartwarming stories of players like Ben Griffin, adding a personal touch to the competitive landscape.
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Rory's Narrative Over Raw Totals
- Rory McIlroy's 2025 felt like a career-defining year because of emotional, global wins beyond pure stroke-play totals.
- The Ryder Cup, Masters, Irish Open and The Players gave Rory a narrative weight that outweighed Scotty Scheffler's slightly better raw results.
Count Match Play In Yearly Evaluations
- Value match play and team formats when evaluating a player's year, not just 72-hole stroke play.
- Penalize or reward players for Ryder Cup and match outcomes when comparing otherwise similar seasons.
Fix Irons And Short Game First
- For young contenders, prioritize refining approach and short-game consistency to convert near-misses into wins.
- Focused, boring repetition and routine (not flashy fixes) often produces the most reliable improvement.