Rory McIlroy has found an unlikely ally as he looks to end a major drought that now extends to more than a decade.
The Irishman has four wins in golf’s marquee events to his name but none since the PGA Championship in August 2014.
Next month’s Masters presents him with his latest opportunity to snap that hoodoo and, in the process, become just the sixth player to complete golf’s career grand slam.
According to Steve Williams, who caddied for Tiger Woods in 13 of his 15 major victories, McIlroy’s next major triumph may well open the floodgates for several more successes.
“Rory’s an incredible player and it’s somewhat surprising to everybody that he’s on this extended period without winning a major championship,” Williams told bunkered.co.uk.
“Winning his next one is going to be as difficult as winning his first one, but if he could get his hands on one of those trophies, I believe that he could go on a very, very successful run.
“The expectations that he plays under, he’s somewhat like Tiger was when he was winning them all. Every time Rory tees up in a major, he’s obviously one of the favourites to win the tournament. And the more this length of time between major victories goes on, the harder it is.
“But if he can just get over the road in one of them, I think he’ll go on and win more. The next one won’t be his last one, that’s for sure. But he’s got to get that next one.”
Williams – whose new book Together We Roared about his time working alongside Tiger is due for release next month – also had words of encouragement for McIlroy’s much-maligned caddie Harry Diamond.
One of McIlroy’s closest friends, and a contemporary from their time playing junior golf at Holywood Golf Club in Northern Ireland, Diamond picked up the bag in 2017 but has yet to experience the thrill of major glory.
McIlroy’s drought, Williams insists, will be weighing on Diamond, too.
“He’s in a difficult position because every time he gets into contention with Rory, he’s probably thinking that he hasn’t been on the bag for a major win,” added the veteran Kiwi.
“There’s pressure to win tournaments and an elevated pressure when it comes to majors. And it’ll be exactly the same for him, when Rory gets over the line, he gets over the line. He’s caddying for one of the greatest players ever to have played the game and the only thing missing on his resume is a major. He’ll be just as desperate as Rory is.
“Rory, he’s got four. Harry’s got none. And so he’ll be desperate for himself, and he’s probably got some expectations on himself. But if you’re good enough to win regular tournaments – and they are – you’re good enough to win majors.”
