Masters win will give him the grand slam too
Monday 21 July 2014 16:33, UK
Colin Montgomerie is convinced Rory McIlrory is on the way to become Britain's greatest ever golfer.
That was his verdict following the Northern Irishman's stunning Open win at Hoylake, Royal Liverpool, on Sunday, that saw him lead from the front and finish two-shots clear of Sergio Garcia and Rickie Fowler.
I think he is eventually going to take over from Nick Faldo's position as Britain's greatest player
It means that McIlroy has now won three of the four majors available and can complete the foursome if he adds the Masters to his collection at Augusta next April.
Faldo won six majors and Montgomerie - who was one of many leading European golfers that came close but failed - is in no doubt that the accolade of Britain's best will change hands very soon.
"There's plenty more to come," Montgomerie told Sky Sports News.
"I think he is eventually going to take over from Nick Faldo's position as Britain's greatest player.
"He won six majors, Nick, and I think Rory is well on his way - not just to that but the grand slam as well. He's just got the Masters to finsh off all four majors and very few people do that.
"It was a great performance yesterday."
No European golfer has ever won three of the four majors and McIlroy also became one of just three players to have won three of them by the age of 25.
Only Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods managed to do the same and Montgomerie believes that the Open winner is starting to grow in stature, along with his success.
"He is becoming that same way," said Mongomerie.
"In the 1990's or early 2000's, if you saw Tiger in the first round of a major you just thought 'that's it, I'm playing for second place' and I think it is a wee bit like that with Rory now.
"That first round of 66 that he shot, six under, really said to everybody 'look, he's not really going to go away he's going to move forward from here - and he did.
"It was a fantastic performance yesterday but was anyone going to catch-up with him and then overtake him? No, he was too good."
