Golf's established world order, led by Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, is facing a formidable new challenge, according to a fellow professional. The player identified as the most likely contender to disrupt the dominance of the sport's top two stars is England's own Tommy Fleetwood.
The Pro's Verdict: A New Challenger Emerges
The bold claim comes from fellow golfer Laurie Canter, who is competing alongside both McIlroy and Fleetwood at the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai. Canter has declared that, statistically, Fleetwood has been the world's second-best golfer this year, trailing only the seemingly unstoppable Scottie Scheffler.
"The golf sickos out there would tell you Tommy's the second-best player in the world this year," Canter told Sky Sports. "Statistically, what he's doing stacks up [with Scheffler and McIlroy]. He doesn't have the major record of those two, obviously, but he will have. I think it's inevitable he will do that and I think he'll get a couple."
Fleetwood's Stellar 2025 Campaign
This endorsement is built on the foundation of Fleetwood's most successful professional season to date. The Southport native secured his maiden PGA Tour victory at the Tour Championship, a monumental win that saw him claim the coveted FedEx Cup.
His exceptional form continued in the team arena, where he delivered a star performance in Europe's thrilling Ryder Cup triumph against the United States. Fleetwood contributed four vital points to the team's success, cementing his status as a big-game player.
This surge in performance is widely attributed to his work with legendary coach Butch Harmon, a partnership that began in 2023. Canter pointed to this, saying, "He seems to have a great team behind him, Butch Harmon and all the like, so I would back him to have a pretty nice little spell of golf the next decade if he stays fit."
The Established Hierarchy and The Dubai Stage
Scheffler and McIlroy's position at the pinnacle of the sport is undisputed. Between them, they have won three of this year's four major titles. McIlroy captured his long-awaited Masters victory to complete the career Grand Slam, while Scheffler secured both the USPGA Championship and The Open Championship.
This success is reflected in the official world rankings, where Scheffler holds a commanding lead and McIlroy sits comfortably in second place. As the golf season reaches its climax in Dubai, all eyes are on this dynamic. McIlroy is poised to secure his seventh Race to Dubai title.
During the second round of the championship, Nicolai Hojgaard stormed into a three-shot lead at 12 under par. McIlroy was among a group of players at nine under, while both Fleetwood and Canter were positioned at eight under par. Fleetwood's remarkable run of 68 consecutive bogey-free holes finally ended at the 12th, a testament to his incredibly consistent form, which saw him narrowly miss out on victory in Abu Dhabi the previous week after a play-off with Aaron Rai.
