PGA Tour star backs Rory McIlroy’s Masters bid: ‘He deserves the Grand Slam’

Many believe it is a case of ‘when’ rather than ‘if’ when it comes Rory McIlroy winning the Masters – and Billy Horschel is no different.

McIlroy and Horschel will tee up in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship this week, less than a fortnight after the pair went toe-to-toe in a fascinating climax to the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

The American bested that particular battle, but when it comes to golf’s grandest occasion at Augusta National, there is nothing he would like more that to see his friend not only slip into that famous Green Jacket but join golf’s ultra-exclusive Grand Slam club.

“I hope so, for Rory’s sake,” Horschel told reporters ahead of his preparation for the links showpiece which is played over St Andrews’ Old Course, Carnoustie, and Kingsbarns.

“I know too well no one deserves anything in this game, but you look at what Rory has done in the game of golf, he deserves to win golf’s Grand Slam.

“Of course, you could say the same about Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson, and the likes of Phil Mickelson. I just feel that it would be great to see someone like Rory achieve the feat.

“I’ve seen Tiger [Woods] achieve such a milestone but then to have someone that I know as well and as admire like Rory, would be unbelievable.”

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McIlroy will tee up in the Home of Golf alongside his father Gerry hoping to get over the line after two straight runners-up finishes – first to Rasmus Hojgaard in the Irish Open at Royal County Down, then to Horschel at Wentworth – while the near miss to Bryson DeChambeau at the US Open is still fresh in his mind.

Horschel, however, is not worried.

“Looking ahead I do believe something great is going to happen to Rory,” he continued.

“The way Rory’s handled this year and for not cracking … it’s why I feel next year could be a really incredible year for Rory.”

Alex Perry is the Associate Editor of bunkered. A journalist for more than 20 years, he has been a golf industry stalwart for the majority of his career and, in a five-year spell at ESPN, covered every sporting event you can think of. He completed his own Grand Slam at the 2023 Masters, having fallen in love with the sport at his hometown club of Okehampton and on the links of nearby Bude & North Cornwall.

Associate Editor