Paul McGinley picks who is the greater European golfer out of Rory McIlroy and Seve Ballesteros

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When Rory McIlroy’s career draws to a close, the Northern Irishman will be regarded as one of the greatest golfers of his generation.

The 35-year-old’s early career and four major championship victories before 2014 captured the golfing world’s imagination, and McIlroy is now one of the sport’s most famous figures.

However, as most are aware, the 35-year-old must answer some big questions before his career dwindles into its latter stages.

The Masters, of course, is at the top of McIlroy’s priorities. McIlroy famously crumbled at Augusta in 2011, having been in complete control and destined to land his first green jacket.

What’s more, it’s been over ten years since the Northern Irishman’s last major championship victory. McIlroy’s narrow 2024 US Open heartbreak was yet another near miss after the 2023 US Open and 2022 Open Championship at St Andrews.

Clearly, majors must be added to the 35-year-old’s resume, and Paul McGinley believes it’s a big reason why McIlroy isn’t Europe’s greatest-ever player.

Rory McIlroy or Seve Ballesteros?

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Speaking on Sky Sports ahead of the DP World Tour Championship finale in Dubai, McGinley claimed Seve Ballesteros and Nick Faldo are currently ahead of McIlroy purely because of their major championship records.

“He is not far off it,” McGinley said. “I only put Seve and Nick Faldo ahead of him at this time. More major wins is a big thing. That’s the big judgement and that rarified atmosphere. You can win all the big Tour events.

“Seve has won 50 of them, and Rory has won 40 tournaments worldwide, but ultimately, you will be judged by the majors. Seve has won five, and Nick has won six. That’s going to be a big part of it.

The Irishman continued: “But let’s also talk about the charisma. That’s a big part in not only being the most decorated in terms of what you won but also in terms of what you stand for and are made of. This is a tumultuous time in the sport at the moment, so he has a huge part to play in that.

“Seve did it in his own way, particularly when it came to the Ryder Cup; he dragged Europe up to where we are now as a really competitive team, and a lot of the credit rightfully has gone his way.

“I think that is part of who is going to be the greatest European player. It’s not just what you win but also what you have done and how you have represented the tour and your colleagues in Europe.”

Major number five only a matter of time for Rory McIlroy

It’s only a matter of time before McIlroy adds major number five to his resume.

In the last two years, McIlroy has competed in eight major championships and finished in the top ten four times. Furthermore, he’s finished runner-up in the US Open in back-to-back years, which perhaps indicates which major is the most likely to end his drought.

The major championship venues in 2025 are arguably set up perfectly for McIlroy. The Northern Irishman has an up-and-down relationship with Augusta National, but after his T22 in 2024, a positive performance could soon emerge.

The PGA Championship returns to Quail Hollow in 2025, the scene of McIlroy’s last PGA Tour victory at the Wells Fargo Championship.

Oakmont will host the US Open. The notoriously hard track will reward those who carry the ball a long way and putt it well, two things McIlroy excels at. Finally, the Northern Irishman will return home to Royal Portrush for The Open, and there’s no doubt McIlroy will want to improve on his 2019 performance, where he missed the cut.