Four days after Rory McIlroy joined Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus as the one of only three players under the age of 26 to hold three Majors and the ‘Golden Bear’ declared he likes McIlroy’s ‘swagger’.
Nicklaus hosted an international conference calll and not surprisingly the 18-time Major winner was asked his reaction to McIlroy’s Open Championship triumph.
“I think he’s going to win a lot of major championships,” said Nicklaus.
“I like his swagger … his confidence.”
Jack Nicklaus says he likes Rory McIlroy’s ‘swagger’ after the Northern Irishman captured last week’s 143rd Open Championship.
And Nicklaus gave McIlroy a resounding vote of approval in saying: “Whichever direction Rory heads, he’ll be successful,” Nicklaus said. “He’s the one who has to decide.”
The Golden Bear had afforded McIlroy a swing tip when the two met at Nicklaus’ office in south Florida ahead of the U.S. Open but then golf’s greatest-ever champion wasn’t sure if the 25-year old Ulsterman put the tip into effect at Royal Liverpoool.
“I saw a couple of things that I thought could help him,” recalled Nicklaus.
“I didn’t want to interfere with his teacher. … Rory seemed very much at ease (with his swing) at the British. But he may not have remembered or thought about (the Nicklaus tip). Whether I helped him, I don’t know.”
And while Nicklaus was tackling questions on golf’s newest three-time Major winner he also was asked his opinion on Tiger Woods and the game’s second most Major winning player and whether or not Woods will be a member of Tom Watson’s Ryder Cup side.
“Tiger will be back and do pretty good,” he said.
“And absolutely he’ll be a member of the USA Team. If I were the captain, I would be hard-pressed (not to select him). I don’t care what he does (in his next two or more tournaments). I would choose him.”
Asked what advice he would give Woods now if he were his coach, Nicklaus said, “Tiger probably knows what he has to do. He’s smart. He understands his game. I don’t think it’s my place to give him advice.”
Nicklaus, who celebrated his 54th wedding anniversary Tuesday, also talked about the many changes to his course designs that will play host to the PGA Championship (Valhalla) and the Ryder Cup (Gleneagles Centenary).
The greens were redone at Valhalla, and tweaks were made to every hole. He said several holes are “more user-friendly” and several greens have more pin positions.
He said he expects a similar winning score as in 2000, when Woods and runner-up Bob May each shot 18-under 270 in regulation. That’s because it’s hard to get the turf firm and fast in August in Louisville.
As for the Ryder Cup, he said he expects players often shooting the equivalent of 66 to 68. He said the Centenary wasn’t “intended to be a back-breaking” course but can play difficult in bad weather conditions.
