Rory McIlroy must work hard and improve if he is to dominate the sport, says Jack Nicklaus, golf’s most prolific major winner.
McIlroy goes into 2017 with only Jason Day above him in the world rankings and with four major titles to his name.
Nicklaus now believes the 27-year-old from Northern Ireland must decide if he wants to become the sport’s greatest player.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Nicklaus said: ‘Rory is one of those young men who has a tremendous amount of talent. He has won and played on his talent to this point. If he wishes to dominate he’s got to improve.’
Nicklaus, the 18-time major champion who has developed a strong friendship with McIlroy, warned that standing still at the top of the game means one thing - quickly being passed. ‘Rory has to work hard, focus on what he is trying to do and it is up to him,’ added Nicklaus.
‘He has all the tools to do it - it is just whether he has the desire and the willingness to give up some other things. That’s his call. I mean, whatever Rory does, he has established himself as one of the great players that ever played the game.
‘Whether he wants to be the greatest player - that’s his determination and it’s his decision whether he wants to make that effort to try to do that.
‘I always felt like I was climbing a mountain. Once I got to the top I was probably close to my mid-forties. You have to keep climbing and trying to get better.’
Nicklaus also advised McIlroy, who often practises at the 76-year-old American’s Bears Club in Jupiter, Florida, on how to approach life after his wedding to Erica Stoll, reportedly scheduled after April’s Masters at Augusta.
‘It’s just management of time,’ said Nicklaus, who had five children. ‘When you are young and single and just one-dimensional you pretty much can do things at your leisure.
‘Once you start getting married, having a family, other business interests, then you’ve got to learn how to manage your time and use it efficiently. He’ll learn that.’
McIlroy has won two US PGA Championships as well as the 2011 US Open and 2014 Open. In April he will arrive at Augusta seeking, for the third time, to complete a career grand slam.
‘I think he will win the Masters (some day),’ said Nicklaus, who wore the green jacket on a record six occasions. He certainly has the type of game that would do well at Augusta and he has done well before - he just hasn’t finished it.’