Is Rory McIlroy Now One Of The 10 Greatest Golfers In History?

After finally delivering a Masters victory and completing the career Grand Slam, it’s time to reassess Rory McIlroy’s place in golf history.

Last year, I put together a ranking of the best golfers the men’s game has ever seen. While you can argue positioning, I think the first seven names on the list are mandatory for any top 10 of the greatest players: Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan, Bobby Jones, Sam Snead, Gary Player and Arnold Palmer.

The ranking gets hazier after that point. I have Walter Hagen, Tom Watson and Phil Mickelson in my top 10—although there are valid arguments for a handful of other legends to be included.

Should McIlroy now get consideration for the top 10? I believe so.

McIlroy is the greatest European golfer ever

Let’s start here: I fully believe that, with his Masters title, McIlroy is now the best European golfer ever.

His only legitimate competition here are Seve Ballesteros, Harry Vardon and Nick Faldo. I have him ahead of all three.

There have been, of course, some tremendous European golfers over time—but of the 21 men to reach five major titles, only six of them are Europeans. And two of those players only won Open Championships, all in the pre-World War I era.

Comparing eras is always tricky so it’s tough to weigh Vardon’s seven majors (spanning 1896 to 1914) against the modern accomplishments of McIlroy, Ballesteros and Faldo. Six of his seven majors were Open Championships. However, he only made three major starts outside of that, winning a U.S. Open and finishing runner-up twice.

Ultimately, due to the era in which he played, his travel was limited so Vardon’s legacy among the game’s greats is also limited to an extent.

Faldo does have a more complete CV (as Euros would say) with six major titles, one more than McIlroy.

But when you dig deeper here, McIlroy’s depth of accomplishment greatly outweighs Faldo.

They both have exactly 19 top-five finishes in major championships but McIlroy has done so in 64 appearances while Faldo needed 100. And Faldo, despite many years of attempts, never won a U.S. Open, PGA Championship or Players Championship. McIlroy has all three and he even won the Players Championship twice.

McIlroy has already spent 122 weeks as the No. 1 player in the world. Faldo ended his career with 97 weeks atop the Official World Golf Ranking.

And McIlroy’s career Grand Slam—something only five other players in history have accomplished—is a trump card Faldo doesn’t have.

I would echo much of that same sentiment for Ballesteros who had five major titles with no U.S. Open or PGA Championship crowns.

McIlroy has already outpaced Faldo and Ballesteros in most categories. He has several more years to add to those totals.

Now how does he compare to other greats?

Given that we’ve established McIlroy is clearly the best European golfer to ever live, where should he fit among all golfers?

My short answer is that he’s right around No. 11 on the list.

The aforementioned ranking has Watson at No. 9. He has eight major wins—although he never captured a PGA Championship—and might be the greatest links player in history. Watson also has 39 PGA Tour titles to McIlroy’s 29 victories, plus three more player of the year honors.

This is a tough one but I think the major victory discrepancy is a little too large for me to say McIlroy should be ahead of Watson. If McIlroy gets another one, the discussion gets more complicated.

Mickelson, on the other hand, is a fiercer debate.

McIlroy’s Grand Slam makes his five major championships just as powerful (if not more so) than Mickelson’s six major titles. McIlroy won the Players twice; Mickelson won it once.

Mickelson has 16 more Tour titles and 10 more top-five major finishes, which is difficult to ignore. The depth of competition was weaker when Mickelson played but McIlroy didn’t spend an entire career going up against Tiger.

It’s close. You can persuade me either way. I’ll take Mickelson for now but I think McIlroy eventually surpasses him with ease, making this whole debate moot.

As for others who could be ahead of McIlroy, I’m struggling to see anyone else. Gene Sarazen is a candidate but this once again comes down to comparing vastly different eras.

The opportunity is open for McIlroy to be a legend

This Masters triumph could open the floodgates for McIlroy.

With his legacy as a career Grand Slam winner finally secure, what is to stop him from winning a few more majors and surpassing the likes of Palmer, Watson, Snead and others?

The next major is a month from now at Quail Hollow, a course where he has already won multiple times. What if he wins again?

McIlroy is about to turn 36 but still has a handful of years remaining to play outstanding golf. He’s already suggested his career won’t be lengthy so the window for winning more majors is the next five years.

If he can put a couple of more on the board, there will be no doubt he’s an all-time legend.