Sir Nick Faldo has acknowledged Rory McIlroy’s exceptional golfing skills, stopping short of naming him the greatest of all time. McIlroy, aged 36, further solidified his status in the sport by successfully defending his Masters title at Augusta.
McIlroy’s final round score of one-under-par 71 on Sunday was enough to surpass world No.1 Scottie Scheffler and secure his sixth major championship, making him only the fourth player in history to achieve back-to-back Masters victories, following Jack Nicklaus, Faldo, and Tiger Woods.
Having attained the career Grand Slam with his first Masters win last year, McIlroy’s prominence among golf elites was highlighted by Faldo after his thrilling playoff triumph over Justin Rose. The six-time major champion positioned McIlroy above himself in the golfing hierarchy but noted that there are still higher-ranked figures in the sport.
In a recent statement to The Times, Faldo emphasized McIlroy’s accomplishments, stating that he would place him fifth among the all-time greats, behind Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods. Reflecting on golf history, Faldo discussed his rationale for ranking McIlroy above Gene Sarazen, citing the distinct eras they played in.
Faldo’s previous prediction that McIlroy’s first Masters win could propel him to further success seems to have materialized with his second victory. McIlroy, after his latest triumph, expressed gratitude to his family for their unwavering support, particularly acknowledging his wife and daughter.
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