LIV Golf star says Rory McIlroy "has not peaked yet" and will win The Masters

LIV Golf's Lee Westwood believes Rory McIlroy will complete the career grand slam at The Masters in April.

25 Jul 2023

Rory McIlroy may now be slipping into a 10th year without major success, but LIV Golf star Lee Westwood believes that will all change at the next opportunity at The Masters in April 2024.

Westwood, speaking to The Telegraph after Brian Harman's emphatic six-stroke win at The Open at Royal Liverpool, considers McIlroy has not even reached his peak now at the age of 34.

McIlroy may have been frustrated at his major performances this season, especially when missing the cut at The Masters earlier this year, but he did at least string three top-10s together at the US PGA (T7), US Open (2) and The Open (T6).

In the eyes of England's Westwood, a former World No.1 himself, he has never been so confident that McIlroy will finally complete the career grand slam at Augusta National in less than nine months time.

Westwood told The Telegraph:

"Rory will now go into a 10th season without having won a major, but to my mind he has not peaked yet and fared ridiculously well to win four majors before he was 25. I did not play my best golf until I was in my late 30s.

"I got to World No.1 and yes, I was given pelters from the US for somehow not being worthy of the moniker - and I believe Rory will be the same."

He added:

"He is so consistent and should carry on what he is doing. I honestly have a feeling that he will win the Masters in April and I’m not sure I’ve felt that way before. Rory just seems on that path and one day, it will all click and he will walk away with another major - Harman style."

Westwood's views are in stark contrast to those of Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee, who believes while McIlroy might look like a 'Greek god' that time is no longer on his side.

Chamblee said on Golf Channel:

"I know you think he's ripped and he is ripped, but you reach your physical prime at 26, 27 years old. You look at when soccer players are dismissed from teams, it's far earlier than you would think because they have statistics that show you've reached your statistical prime. I'm talking about mental, I'm talking about optical acuity, all these little things touch nerves, speed. I realise he's ripping it and he looks like a Green god, but I'm talking about, at 34, he doesn't have as much runaway in front of him as he did when he won his last major."

Is the man himself worried?

Hardly...

"I don't think that way [negatively]," said McIlroy following his T6 at The Open.

"I think about trying to go and win a fourth FedEx Cup, a fifth Race to Dubai and win a fifth Ryder Cup.

"I just keep looking forward."

Westwood also tore into Golf Digest over their coverage of Open champion Harman in his latest interview with the Telegraph.

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