Rory McIlroy's commitment to refining his game has earned high praise from a golfing icon. Ian Woosnam, the 1991 Masters champion, suggested that McIlroy could now be considered the finest European golfer of all time following his second victory at Augusta National.
McIlroy's Sixth Major Triumph
The 36-year-old Northern Irishman secured his sixth major championship earlier this month by successfully defending his title at Augusta. After a dramatic playoff victory over Justin Rose in 2025 to complete a career Grand Slam, McIlroy edged out rival Scottie Scheffler by a single stroke this year to claim his second Green Jacket. Ranked second in the world, McIlroy had endured an 11-year major drought before breaking through at Augusta in his 17th attempt, demonstrating resilience and perseverance.
Woosnam's Admiration
Speaking on the EU Legends Tour's YouTube channel, the 68-year-old Welshman said: "What I love about Rory is his dedication. You get up in the morning, to be that good for that long... To keep going to be that good for a lot longer is the dedication, and how much you've got to put in to be able to do the sacrifice you have to do that, which is incredible." Woosnam added: "If he keeps playing like that and he gets the right set of courses, he could get at least another two or three majors. I believe he could, yeah."
Comparison with European Greats
Woosnam boldly declared: "He could quite easily be the best golfer from Britain and Europe." This is significant praise given the achievements of other European legends. Sir Nick Faldo won six majors and spent 97 weeks as world number one. McIlroy has spent 122 weeks at the top of the rankings, a feat surpassed only by Tiger Woods, Greg Norman, Scottie Scheffler, and Dustin Johnson. Seve Ballesteros, another European icon, won five majors and dominated the sport from the mid-1970s to the mid-1990s. McIlroy's consistent excellence places him in elite company.
