Colin Montgomerie believes Rory McIlroy can claim Grand Slam in 2015

Colin Montgomerie believes Rory McIlroy is on course to become the first player in the modern era to win all four major championships in a single season.

McIlroy, who won the Open and US PGA Championship in 2014, can emulate Tiger Woods by holding all four majors at the same time with victories in the Masters and the US Open in 2015.

But Montgomerie believes the Ulsterman is capable of winning all four tournaments next year which would mean an unprecedented six-major sweep for the first time in the history of the sport.

Bobby Jones is the only player to win all four majors in the same season, but his 1930 success came before The Masters was institued, when two of the grand slam tournaments were for amateurs.

Speaking to social network site kicca.com, Montgomerie said: "Can he win all four in a year, never mind two? That means six in a row. Wow, that'll be something.

"If you're a betting man, I'm sure there are a lot of people putting money on it, I'm sure it's a 100-1 shot but it's worth a punt. If I was a gambler, which I'm not, I'd put money on that; he's that dominant, and that good."

McIlroy enjoyed his greatest year as a player in 2014, winning four times and reclaiming his spot at the top of the world ranking.

The 25-year-old then topped off his year with a rousing display at Gleneagles in the Ryder Cup where he secured three points for Paul McGinley’s triumphant European side.

But now Montgomerie believes the Ulsterman must turn his attention to preparing for the Masters in April next year where he can come become only the sixth person in the modern era to complete a career grand slam.  

"The 2015 majors are coming up with the first one, the Masters, in April," said Montgomerie. "Having won the Open and the US PGA, he's going for three in a row and if he does that, the US Open will be a big event, to see if he can get that grand slam.

"If he does win the Masters, wow, that US Open will be a big, big, big do indeed."