Glory for Rory at last says Player

GARY PLAYER has dubbed Rory McIlroy ‘the Iron man’ and tipped him for glory at The Open at St Andrews next month.

The South African legend – nicknamed ‘Mr Fitness’ during his own playing days – says the Northern Irishman is ‘the most talented man on the planet’ and says he can end his eight-year drought without a Major.

Player believes golfers are now following in his footsteps from over 60 years ago as he embarked on a career that was to see him lift nine Major titles of his own.

The 86-year-old (above), who also carried the moniker of the ‘Black Knight’, remains as sharp as a tack and says McIlroy (below) is following that blueprint for success.

Player said: “When I first started in 1953, I started to exercise

– because my brother went off to war in South Africa – I promised him I would exercise for the rest of my life.

“I am still pushing a few weights and I really admire Rory – and Tiger Woods – who continued the legacy or this idea I had.

“Now, I see a lot of Rory. He’s a member of Jack Nicklaus’ club, called the Bear’s club in West Palm Beach, Florida – and I’ve spent a lot of time there.

“First off, his swing is phenomenal. The best on the planet. He’s got the power, the right ingredients, balance.

“There’s no one who comes close – maybe Justin Thomas, in terms of a great swing.

“But then there’s his fitness regime. I don’t know what it is but he’s clearly got one – he’s like a piece of iron, very strong.

“They have travelling gyms on tour – the guys are training and starting to eat properly and challenging the mind.

“And we are heading into a new era now where people are realising that if you don’t do your weight training, follow your diet, sleep well and you don’t laugh a lot, you won’t win.

“Yes, there are a lot of things that make up a champion. “You have to have ‘it’. Certain people have ‘it’ bestowed upon them. Others don’t. But Rory has ‘it’. And I know he hasn’t won a Major since 2014. But I’m tipping him to win at St Andrews.

“The greens are big – that works in his favour because I think chipping might be his weakness.”