Jack Nicklaus makes big prediction about Rory McIlroy' career

Golf legend Jack Nicklaus recently expressed optimism about Rory McIlroy's career, saying that the Irish player would significantly add to his major championship tally. McIlroy turned professional in 2007 and won four majors from 2011 to 2014. However, he has failed to win another major in over a decade.

Nicklaus won 18 major championships during the course of his golf career and is regarded as one of the greatest golfers of all time. While talking to Golf Channel on his 85th birthday on Tuesday, January 21, Nicklaus said (via Sports Illustrated):

"(McIlroy’s) a great, great guy. He's as talented a player as there is out there, and he’s got a lot more majors in him. You just got to get them out of him and that’s the problem."

Nicklaus also expressed confidence that McIlroy would eventually win the Masters, stating that the World No. 3 is too good to not achieve the feat. However, Nicklaus emphasized the need for McIlroy to overcome mental hurdles. He referred to the 2024 U.S. Open, where McIlroy missed two short putts in the final three holes. He said:

"What he has to deal with is exactly what you're talking about, psychologically. He hasn’t won for a while and when he gets himself in a position, last year at Pinehurst, he had a little short putt at 16 that he wouldn't miss 1 in 1000 times, but he did and then missed another one at 18. But you get yourself or you haven't won one for a while, and it’s difficult to get out of that."

Nicklaus feels that McIlroy will break through and win a major which will lead to him winning two or three more in quick succession.

---

Rory McIlroy feels the sting of missing out on a fifth major

McIlroy came agonizingly close to winning his fifth major at the 2024 U.S. Open. The 35-year-old entered the final round of the tournament trailing Bryson DeChambeau by three shots. He overcame the deficit and was leading by two shots with four holes to go.

However, on the 16th and 18th holes, he scored two bogeys after he missed two putts under three feet. During the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai in November 2024, Mcllroy was asked to assess his year. Here's what he said (via ASAP Sports):

"Yeah, incredibly consistent again. I think I've been really proud of that over the last few years. But then at the same time, you know, thinking about the ones that got a way. I could be sitting up here with a fifth major title and I am not. So that stings and that's something that I have to come to terms with but at the same time I've got plenty more opportunities in the future."

"You know, did I achieve every goal I set for myself this year? Probably not," he added.

Rory McIlroy's last major win came at the 2014 PGA Championship where he won by one stroke over Phil Mickelson.