MORE: Adam Scott joint leader at The Barclays
Defending champion Scott carded a six-under-par 65 to share a one-shot lead with American Cameron Tringale at The Barclays on Friday.
Scott has just one win on tour this season but the world number two - ranked 15th in the FedEx Cup standings - is using McIlroy's run of three consecutive victories as motivation at Ridgewood Country Club.
McIlroy had not won a title this season prior to his triumphs at The Open Championship, WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and the US PGA Championship, with defeat in a three-way play-off his previous best effort.
"I think you've got to draw motivation from wherever you can," Scott said of the Northern Irishman, who is five shots off the pace in New Jersey.
"I'm not afraid to say that I look at the way he played and I want that to be me. And I feel that I can play like that and have runs like that.
"You've got to learn from the best and he's one of them.
"So look at what he's doing and the way he's going about it is important because it's relevant to the way we all play out here."
Scott was four shots off the lead at the start of day two but a run of four consecutive birdies, beginning at the fifth hole, helped the 34-year-old power up the leaderboard at the FedEx Cup play-offs opener.
Though, Scott was adamant he could have done better in the second round, lamenting the speed of the greens.
"There were some good ones [strokes]. Look, the greens are a little trickier in the afternoon," he said.
"They are perfectly smooth in the morning and once the field goes over it - it's just that little bit different.
"Your speed's got to be perfect to get that true roll, and most of them were good putts. Of course some were not. My putting feels good. It just wasn't my day today on the greens."