RORY CAN COLLECT 10

PADRAIG HARRINGTON predicts Rory Mcilroy will hit the 10 mark in major titles – but believes the task is harder because his rivals have caught up.

Mcilroy (above) has been stuck on four since winning the PGA four years ago.

The 29-year-old is joint third favourite to win the Claret Jug at Carnoustie this week.

But Harrington, who won the last Open to be held at this venue in 2007, reckons time is still on his fellow Irishman’s side.

“Rory’s played well this year and yet seems to be getting a lot of press saying he’s not,” said the Dubliner.

“Clearly, his career is

now solely based on how he does in the majors. There seems to be no other yardstick for Rory, and that’s probably the yardstick he uses himself.

“I think back in 2011 he had stolen a match on the field when it came to driving the golf ball, which brought tremendous confidence to his game.

“At this stage, players have caught up. There are many players who drive the ball comparable distances and have certainly eaten into that advantage.

“Really in 2011 he was competing against himself, similar to how Tiger (above) would have been for most of his career. There are many guys he’s competing against now, and it’s just a tougher ask.

“The beauty for Rory is he’s still very young, he’s still very capable, and with patience those majors will come.

“There’s no doubt at four you want Rory to have more majors, but even in Tiger’s best years – he started in ‘95, turned pro, and say if he finished winning the majors in 2008, so like that’s 14 majors over basically 14 years at that stage. That’s one a year.

“It doesn’t happen as often as people think.

“Rory is well on pace to get into double digits with majors, but it has got harder.

“But the reality, when you start looking at some of even the best players, – some have still got one or no major or two majors.

“So Rory’s doing pretty well at four.”