Rory McIlroy is The Masters champion after 11 long years of trying to get it done and nobody will be able to tell him it’s any less important than it is.
McIlroy overcame a number of hiccups to win in a playoff against Justin Rose and finally complete the career grand slam in the most dramatic of fashion.
However, while McIlroy admitted he was so proud to win The Masters, not everyone over the years believes winning at Augusta National is the biggest one.
In fact, three-time winner Gary Player has previously suggested that The Masters is bottom of the pile out of the four.
Now, though, Player’s comments have been called into question by Tiger Woods’ former coach, Hank Haney.
Hank Haney says Gary Player is wrong as Rory McIlroy wins The Masters
Speaking about the four majors back in 2023, the evergreen Gary Player actually suggested The Masters was the least important.
“I rate the Open at one, the US Open two, PGA three and Augusta four. Four marvelous tournaments,” Player said previously.
“The Masters falls fourth because it’s not meant to be ahead of those others. The Masters Tournament is not a championship. You can’t rank a tournament ahead of championships.”
However, taking to social media, the ever opinionated Hank Haney has pointed out just how wrong Player was.
Posting on his X account, Haney directly called Player out.
READ MORE:
Gary Player’s 2025 Masters prediction comes true
While he might be wrong about The Masters being the least of the majors – an opinion that is subjective of course – one thing Player wasn’t wrong about was who would win this year.
Prior to the event getting underway, both Player and Jack Nicklaus picked out Rory McIlroy as the winner.
“I think Rory McIlroy will win the Masters this year, and I hope he does because it would give golf a great boost to have another winner of the Grand Slam. He has the best swing in golf without a question. He’s the fittest golfer. He does a dead lift of 400 pounds. I don’t know if you’re aware of what a dead lift is. 400 pounds. If you do 100 pounds, it’s exceptional,” Player said.
“He went to Jack for advice on how to play this golf course. Nobody knows better than Jack. And I think timing in life, he’s had his adversities, his opportunities to win majors and let them slip. I think his time is right.”
With McIlroy finally getting hold of the green jacket, he’ll be hoping to see much more of Player and others in the dining room as he finally takes his place at the table in the coming years.
Receive exclusive golf news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
