Paul McGinley picks who is Europe’s greatest ever golfer between Rory McIlroy and Sir Nick Faldo

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Rory McIlroy continued his phenomenal season at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, where he claimed the Race to Dubai title.

McIlroy is the highest earner on the DP World Tour, extending his career prize money thanks to his seventh Race to Dubai success.

The Northern Irishman is now just one title behind Colin Montgomerie at the top of the all-time list, with McIlroy having just overtaken Seve Ballesteros.

McIlroy received big praise from Matt Fitzpatrick after the DP World Tour Championship, where the latter beat the former via a playoff to claim the title.

Paul McGinley picks Europe’s best ever golfer between Rory McIlroy and Sir Nick Faldo

The Race to Dubai glory continued a winning theme for McIlroy this season, with the 36-year-old having also completed the career grand slam by winning The Masters.

In light of the achievements, Paul McGinley has been asked on Sky Sports Golf if he thinks McIlroy is Europe’s greatest ever golfer.

He replied: “No question. In my mind, no question. The fact that he’s a grand slam winner I think moves him ahead of the fact that Nick Faldo has won a major more than he has.

“To be the complete player and sit every one of the four exams of the majors and deal with the pressure of getting over the line with the fourth, a number of guys, great players, have got to three of the four majors and then the pressure of trying to win the last one has been just too hard for them to surmount.

“Rory didn’t, and to do it the way he did at Augusta this year and complete that Grand Slam, it shows the mental resilience I was talking about earlier, and to keep coming back and to keep trying the way that he did to get over the line, and getting closer and closer and then not happening.

“And then to keep knocking on the door and get over the line. That for me makes him the most successful… for me it’s even bigger than that.

“For me, he’s one of the greatest sportspeople we have ever seen anywhere in any sport. That’s how high a bar in my opinion Rory McIlroy has set.”

Is Rory McIlroy the best European golfer ever?

It’s certainly an interesting debate, and one that McIlroy undoubtedly must be a part of given his efforts over the years.

He’s now a five-time major champion, and boasts 29 wins on the PGA Tour overall from his glittering career.

Of course, Sir Nick Faldo is also worthy of a place in the discussion, with six major championship wins on his honors list.

Legendary figure Ballesteros must, of course, also be included, along with European icon Montgomerie, both of whom enjoyed unforgettable careers.

But an argument can be made that the current superstar has now surpassed all those who have come before him.

McIlroy will, however, be grateful to simply be mentioned in the same light as the all-time greats, although importantly he can still go on to achieve so much more success.