Ahead of the start of the Masters on Thursday, golf legend Jack Nicklaus has backed Rory McIlroy to win the green jacket, as reported by Sky Sports.
If the Irishman is able to complete the win he will become just the sixth golfer ever to win the career grand slam of all four majors, and Nicklaus feels he has what it takes to achieve this.
The 28-year-old has been in a run of good form and is one of the heavy favourites going into the event.
The three-time major winner claimed a really impressive victory in the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill last month to help continue his impressive form heading into the Masters.
Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Gary Player, Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen are the only players to ever claim the golf grand slam, but Nicklaus believes McIlroy has what it takes to follow in his footsteps.
Nicklaus spoke about his chances:
“I talked to him this weekend and saw a few things and he is really swinging well, the best I’ve ever seen him swing,”
“He obviously putted very well at Bay Hill so he’s going to be tough to beat.
“If you picked anybody he’d be the number one to pick and rightly so. He’s probably playing better than anyone else.”
He went on to add:
“You play it [Augusta National] every year, you can prepare for it easier, once you play the greens you should know them,” “If you’re not a long, high-ball player you can eliminate half the field before you even start.
“No tournament is easy to win, don’t misunderstand me, but of the majors a top player has a better shot here than any other place.”
