The prediction Jack Nicklaus made about Rory McIlroy that now seems highly unlikely

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Rory McIlroy might have finally won the career grand slam in 2025 but in terms of his overall major tally he might end up missing out on double figures.

McIlroy won his first major all the way back in 2011 and by the time 2014 had finished, he’d already won four of them.

As we all know, though, McIlroy would have to wait 11 years to win the next one. His triumph at the 2025 Masters was one of the feel good stories of the year and ultimately, got McIlroy what he’d craved for a decade.

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With Tiger Woods on 15 majors and Jack Nicklaus on 18, McIlroy has a long way to go before he’s anywhere near those numbers.

Indeed, looking back at what Nicklaus predicted for McIlroy ahead of the PGA Championship in 2014, which McIlroy actually won, the Northern Irishman looks like he’s going to let Nicklaus down.

How many majors Jack Nicklaus thought Rory McIlroy would win

With McIlroy such an exciting emerging talent back in the early 2010s, it really did look like he could go on to break every record out there.

However, while he has had a superb career thus far and more can come, McIlroy hasn’t managed to win the majors many expected.

In fact, when it came to the prediction Jack Nicklaus made in 2014, McIlroy has come nowhere near and looks unlikely to either.

“I think Rory has an opportunity to win 15 or 20 majors or whatever he wants to do if he wants to keep playing,” Nicklaus said ahead of the PGA in 2014.

“It depends on what he feels his priorities are and that’s his call.

“I think Rory is an unbelievable talent,” Nicklaus continued.

“I love his swing, I love his rhythm. He’s got a little swagger there, it’s a little bit cocky but not offensive. I like that. I like the self-confidence in a young man.

“He’s got an unbelievable amount of speed in his golf swing, he obviously hits the ball a heck of a long way.

“And he hits in there consistently and how he controls it.”

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Rory McIlroy has to win at least one major in 2026 to keep up his momentum

Make no mistake, 2025 was a monumental year for Rory McIlroy and he has had huge success.

However, when you strip it back, the record books will still show he only added one major championship to his tally.

Winning the Masters was, of course, massive for McIlroy and golf in general. But he is still stuck on five majors and given Nicklaus predicted north of 15, he is some way off getting towards that number.

At 36, McIlroy does have time on his side but he will need to win at least once in 2026 and then continue that for the following years if he’s even to nudge towards double figures.

Still, whether McIlroy does reach ten plus major wins or not, his career and legacy is cemented and when all is said and done, he’ll go down as one of the best to ever do it.