Jack Nicklaus Predicts Rory McIlroy Major Championships

Rory McIlroy’s decade-long Major drought could soon be over, according to golf legend Jack Nicklaus, who believes the Northern Irishman will finally complete his career Grand Slam at Augusta.

It’s been a tough wait for McIlroy. His last Major victory came back in 2014, when he won both The Open and PGA Championship. That brought his total to four Majors – a number that hasn’t changed since.

"I still firmly believe Rory will win the Masters. He’s just too good not to," Nicklaus said while celebrating his 85th birthday.

The 18-time Major champion knows what he’s talking about. And he thinks McIlroy has "a lot more Majors in him."

But there’s no denying the pressure. Today’s players face challenges that Nicklaus’s generation didn’t – constant social media attention and intense media scrutiny make every near-miss feel bigger than ever.

Last year’s US Open at Pinehurst showed just how tough it can be. McIlroy lost a heartbreaker to Bryson DeChambeau, missing two crucial putts that normally would’ve been automatic for a player of his caliber.

"He had a little short putt at 16 that he wouldn’t miss one in 1,000 times, but he did, and then missed another one at 18," Nicklaus explained. "When you haven’t won for a while, it’s difficult to get out of that."

But here’s the interesting part – Nicklaus thinks once McIlroy breaks through, the floodgates might open.

"He won those four pretty fast," Nicklaus said. "All of a sudden he might break through and win a Major and then he’s going to probably win two or three more pretty quickly."

The golf legend couldn’t hide his admiration for McIlroy: "I love Rory McIlroy. I think he’s a great person, a great guy; as talented a player as there is out there."

The next chance for McIlroy to prove Nicklaus right comes this April at The Masters. A win there would finally complete his career Grand Slam – joining an elite club of golfers who’ve won all four major championships.

"I’m rooting for him," Nicklaus added. "I like him a lot."