Golfing legend Jack Nicklaus has admitted that Rory McIlroy's lack of success in some of golf's biggest events is a "mystery."
McIlroy's last major win was in 2014 at the PGA Championship. The Holywood native is a four-time major champion, winning the 2011 U.S. Open, 2012 PGA Championship, 2014 Open Championship, and 2014 PGA Championship. However, since 2014, he has failed to win a fifth major.
During this time period, McIlroy has won other titles and climbed to the top of golf's world rankings.
Nevertheless, he has been unable to secure another major win while his colleagues have succeeded in prestigious golf tournaments. At this year's Masters, despite being the favorite, McIlroy failed to make the cut at Augusta. He will have another opportunity to end his unwanted record at the US Open and the Open Championship in July.
Nicklaus, an 18-time major winner, admitted that he was baffled by McIlroy's major drought. This week, Nicklaus is hosting the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village, where McIlroy will be competing. Nicklaus praised McIlroy's talent, stating, "I mean, he is, as far as talent, he's as talented a player as there is in the game of golf," said the golfer to Golf Montly.
Jack Nicklaus thinks it's only a matter of time until Rory McIlroy wins more Majorshttps://t.co/diOPVzOP1I
— Golf Monthly (@GolfMonthly) May 30, 2023
The veteran golfer doesn't know why McIlroy has struggled in recent years but thinks his lack of concentration could be a significant factor in his decline.
"I don't know whether this is a constant lack of being able to maintain concentration throughout the entire event or not because sometimes he goes par, par, par, double, 8. He does that sometimes. And I asked, 'Why, Rory? Why does that happen?' And he doesn't know. Why he hasn't won in nine years? It's kind of a mystery to a lot of people because he is so good."
However, the 83-year-old also believes that it is a matter of when, not if, for McIlroy when it comes to winning his fifth major.
"He's going to wake up one morning and say, 'Hey, I better, you know, get on the stick here and start winning some more majors,' because he's certainly going to win some more. I can't believe that he's not," he added.
"And sometimes we all have to focus, focus on what we have to do and so forth, and strive to get there."
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