Golf icon Jack Nicklaus admits he is baffled by Rory McIlroy's lack of success in major championships in recent times.
It's now almost a decade since McIlroy last won a major, with his most recent win coming in 2014 at the PGA Championship.
The Northern Irishman has two more chances to end his major drought before it becomes a decade since his last success, with opportunities to come at next month's US Open and the Open Championship in July, which returns to Royal Liverpool and the site of McIlroy's third major win back in 2014.
Much has been made of McIlroy's major shortcomings, with the former World Number One missing the cut at this year's Masters before bouncing back with a top-10 finish at the PGA Championship. Nicklaus, an 18-time major winner, spoke about McIlroy's struggles this week and admits he can't quite believe the Holywood star hasn't added to his major haul since that win nine years ago.
"I mean, he is, as far as talent, he's as talented a player as there is in the game of golf," said Nicklaus.
"Why he hasn't won in nine years? Kind of a mystery to a lot of people because he is so good."
According to Nicklaus, effort isn't an issue as McIlroy is known as one of the hardest working players on the PGA Tour.
The 83-year-old did call into question McIlroy's concentration level however, and expressed concern for how the 34-year-old can sometimes blow-up on the course seemingly without warning.
"I don't know really know what to make of it. Because he's very confident. He works very hard at it. He's a good student of the game. He practices a lot," said Nicklaus.
"I don't know whether his is a constant lack of being able to keep that concentration for the whole thing or not, because sometimes he is the par, par, par, double, 8.
"He does that sometimes. And I said, 'Why, Rory? Why does that happen?' And he doesn't know."
Nicklaus himself went through something of a drought during his career and failed to win a major between 1967 and 1970. Once he broke his duck however, The Golden Bear won a further 10 majors after that win at the Open in 1970.
Despite his concerns, Nicklaus still speaks highly of McIlroy and believes it is only a matter of time before he picks up the fifth major title of his career.
"He's going to wake up one morning and say 'Hey, I better, you know, get on the stick here and start winning some more majors', because he's certainly going to win some more. I can't believe that he's not.
"And sometimes we all have to focus, focus on what we have to do and so forth and to get there."
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