BEAR FACTS ON RORY’S ‘TOUGHER’ SLAM BID

JACK NICKLAUS has warned Rory Mcilroy that completing his career Grand Slam will only get “tougher” as he gets older.

And the Golden Bear (circle) cited Tom Watson and Arnold Palmer as examples of great players who never made the exclusive club.

Only five men have won all four Majors with three of them — Gene Sarazen (1935), Ben Hogan (1953) and Tiger Woods — achieving the feat at the first attempt after winning their third. Woods did it at the 2000 Open aged just 24. Nicklaus (1966) and Gary Player (1965) won at their third attempt.

World No.2 Mcilroy (left) is making his 10th bid to claim the Masters – the only Major he has never won — a month before his 35th birthday.

Woods stated on Tuesday that it is just a matter of time before the Ulsterman wins a Green Jacket.

Speaking at a press conference for the honorary starters, Nicklaus was asked the same question. “The answer to that is yes,” said the Golden Bear, now 84,

He added: “I closed the deal when I was 26 years old. And Tiger closed it when he was younger than I was, and Gary, who was 29.

“As he gets older, it gets tougher because all of a sudden it’s a conversation, all the talk.”

The late, great Palmer won seven Majors but finished runner-up three times in the US PGA. Eighteen-time Major winner Nicklaus added: “Was Tom Watson good enough to win the Grand Slam?

“Absolutely. Was Arnold Palmer good enough to win the Grand Slam?

“Absolutely. Is Rory Mcilroy good enough to win the Grand Slam?

“Absolutely, and do I think Rory will win here? Yeah.

“He could win this year. He could win next year. He’s just too talented not to.

“But then again, they were too talented not to win those, too. You just never know.”