GREG NORMAN BELIEVES Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 major championships will eventually be broken – but not by Tiger Woods.
Woods won his 14th major at the 2008 US Open in a dramatic 19-hole playoff with Rocco Mediate, leaving him within striking distance of the Golden Bear.
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But Norman, speaking on the eve of the Australian PGA Championship at Coolum, anointed Irish star Rory McIlroy as the man most likely to one day surpass Nicklaus’ impressive haul.
“I don’t think so no,” Norman said when asked if Tiger is capable of winning the five majors he requires to pass Nicklaus. ” … every year that passes by that he hasn’t won a major it just gets that much harder to win a major.
“I don’t care how many you have won, it just becomes a little bit more and more difficult … he might win one or two more but I don’t think he will win the four or five more that he needs to win to break the record.
McIlroy already has two major titles to his credit after claiming the 2011 US Open and the 2012 PGA Championship. And Norman says the sky is the limit for the talented 23-year-old.
“I think if anybody can break Nicklaus record I think he could, because he is young, he is ahead of the game, he is ahead of the curve on a lot of things and he has a very balanced life across the board,” he said.
“So I will keep my fingers crossed for him because I would love to see that happen because somebody will do it one day and it could be Rory.”
“I am a big fan of Rory’s, I think it’s really the tip of the iceberg for him now, he can be as big as he wants it to be.”
Norman was equally bullish about his chances at this week’s PGA Championship but concedes golf is low down on his list of priorities these days. Asked his goal for the week Norman quipped, ‘to do a Peter Senior’, referring to the 53-year-old’s victory at last week’s Australian Open.
Norman backs Rory McIlroy to break Jack Nicklaus' majors record
GREG NORMAN BELIEVES Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 major championships will eventually be broken – but not by Tiger Woods.
Woods won his 14th major at the 2008 US Open in a dramatic 19-hole playoff with Rocco Mediate, leaving him within striking distance of the Golden Bear.
But Norman, speaking on the eve of the Australian PGA Championship at Coolum, anointed Irish star Rory McIlroy as the man most likely to one day surpass Nicklaus’ impressive haul.
“I don’t think so no,” Norman said when asked if Tiger is capable of winning the five majors he requires to pass Nicklaus. ” … every year that passes by that he hasn’t won a major it just gets that much harder to win a major.
“I don’t care how many you have won, it just becomes a little bit more and more difficult … he might win one or two more but I don’t think he will win the four or five more that he needs to win to break the record.
McIlroy already has two major titles to his credit after claiming the 2011 US Open and the 2012 PGA Championship. And Norman says the sky is the limit for the talented 23-year-old.
“So I will keep my fingers crossed for him because I would love to see that happen because somebody will do it one day and it could be Rory.”
“I am a big fan of Rory’s, I think it’s really the tip of the iceberg for him now, he can be as big as he wants it to be.”
Norman was equally bullish about his chances at this week’s PGA Championship but concedes golf is low down on his list of priorities these days. Asked his goal for the week Norman quipped, ‘to do a Peter Senior’, referring to the 53-year-old’s victory at last week’s Australian Open.
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