Rory McIlroy gets telling advice over biggest issue as bold prediction made at The Open

Paul McGinley has offered a bold prediction about Rory McIlroy (Image: Getty)

Paul McGinley believes Rory McIlroy is on the brink of a major breakthrough, despite a decade-long drought. He has insisted that the world No. 2 needs to adopt a fresh mindset to overcome his "mental block" and end his wait for another major win.

McIlroy has been tantalisingly close to adding a fifth major to his trophy cabinet, with near misses at The Open in 2022 and the 2023 US Open. However, last month's US Open at Pinehurst No. 2 was perhaps the most heart-wrenching, as he squandered a two-shot lead in the final five holes, allowing Bryson DeChambeau to snatch victory by a single shot.

McGinley, who led McIlroy at the 2014 Ryder Cup, is convinced that the 35-year-old is playing the best golf of his career as he heads into this week's Open Championship at Royal Troon. And he has claimed that a shift to a more relaxed mindset during tournaments could be the key to ending his agonising wait for another major.

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"If he wins one, I think he will win two or three," McGinley predicted. "There is a build-up of scar tissue there over 10 years and there is definitely a bit of a mental block, but he is getting closer to unblocking that.

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"He has had three instances in the past two and a half years where he has got closer than in 10 years, [losing out to] Cameron Smith, Wyndham Clark and Bryson DeChambeau."

"He is on the right path and it's just a question of keep knocking on that door. Lady luck will give him a chance the break that Bob MacIntyre got on Sunday, that can often be the difference. If he keeps knocking on the door the way he is, I'm really, really confident that he'll win one soon. And if he wins one soon, I can see him winning another two or three because then the block is gone.

"It's the major championships that is the stick to beat him with and he knows that and that is why it's so hard to get over the line because it means so much to him. He's got to find a way of not caring. I know that's easy to say, but the build-up of 10 years is a heavy weight on his shoulders. But the door will open, the quality of his golf is better than it's ever been."

McGinley has claimed that McIlroy is the most talented golfer Europe has ever produced, but he has been told he must surpass Nick Faldo's tally of six major titles.

"I think he's got to reach Nick Faldo's [total] and be the outstanding European player with major wins as well as in terms of PGA Tour wins," McGinley added. "He's the most talented player Europe has ever produced. Seve [Ballesteros] had more flair, but in terms of all-around package, Rory is the best.

"The fact he hasn't won a major in 10 years is the stick to beat him with, but you look at everything else, he's won tournaments everywhere in the world, from Australia to Ireland and Scotland, the FedEx, Canada, wherever you want to go, he's got those titles on his resume and his record his phenomenal. Tiger's numbers are phenomenal, but he's right up there tucked up right behind him."

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Rory McIlroy gets telling advice over biggest issue as bold prediction made at The Open

Rory McIlroy gets telling advice over biggest issue as bold prediction made at The Open

Rory McIlroy gets telling advice over biggest issue as bold prediction made at The Open

Rory McIlroy gets telling advice over biggest issue as bold prediction made at The Open

Rory McIlroy gets telling advice over biggest issue as bold prediction made at The Open