Sir Nick Faldo acknowledged Rory McIlroy’s exceptional golfing skills, stopping short of declaring him the greatest. McIlroy, 36, further solidified his legacy in the sport by successfully defending his Masters title at Augusta with a one-under-par round of 71. This victory not only marked his sixth major championship but also made him the fourth player in history to achieve back-to-back Masters wins, joining the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Faldo, and Tiger Woods.

After McIlroy’s first Masters win last year, which completed his career Grand Slam, Faldo praised McIlroy’s achievements but maintained that there are golfing legends ahead of him. Faldo, a six-time major champion, ranked McIlroy fifth among the all-time greats, placing Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods above him.

Reflecting on golf across different eras, Faldo explained why he ranked McIlroy above Gene Sarazen, emphasizing the significance of McIlroy’s Grand Slam achievement. Faldo predicted McIlroy’s success, suggesting that his previous victory could propel him to win more major championships in the future.

McIlroy, after his recent win, expressed gratitude to his family for their support, particularly highlighting his wife Erica Stoll and daughter Poppy. Meanwhile, Sky has enhanced its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle, now offering HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+, and Hayu along with complete coverage of the Premier League, EFL, Formula 1, darts, and golf matches.