Rory McIlroy ‘Deserves the Grand Slam,’ PGA TOUR Rival Says

Rory McIlroy has been trying for ten years to win the Career Grand Slam, coming close but falling short each time.

McIlroy has the support of some of his PGA TOUR rivals, including Billy Horschel, who narrowly edged out the Northern Irishman in a victory at the BMW PGA Championship in late September.

Horschel, who is preparing for the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, said in an interview before the tournament that he hopes McIlroy eventually captures the Green Jacket and a win at Augusta National Golf Club in The Masters:

“I hope so, for Rory’s sake. I know too well no one deserves anything in this game, but you look at what Rory has done in the game of golf, he deserves to win golf’s Grand Slam.”

The list of golfers who have completed the career grand slam is exclusive and short. Legendary names like Arnold Palmer and Phil Mickelson are also close but have one major that has evaded them.

McIlroy came close to winning The Masters in 2011, but a meltdown ruined his chances.

For Palmer, the PGA, for Mickelson, the U.S. Open. Both golfers have finished 2nd multiple times in those events.

Horschel realizes how exclusive the club can be:

“Of course, you could say the same about Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson, and the likes of Phil Mickelson. I just feel that it would be great to see someone like Rory achieve the feat. I’ve seen Tiger achieve such a milestone but then to have someone that I know as well and as admire like Rory, would be unbelievable.”

It’s great to see this kind of respect. Of course, they’re competitors. But they’re also fans of the game.

Horschel closed out the topic with something awesome.

“I do believe something great is going to happen to Rory.”

Cover Image via Golf Magazine