Golf fans react in shock to Sir Nick Faldo’s ‘absolutely insane’ statement about Rory McIlroy

Sir Nick Faldo has always been incredibly forthright with his opinions about Rory McIlroy.

Faldo is one of the most uncompromising golf analysts in the game due to the incredibly high standards to which he holds all of the modern day stars, McIlroy included.

The Englishman has a long and storied history of criticizing the Northern Irishman as well.

Faldo lamented McIlroy’s fitness regime back in 2015 and the three-time Masters champion was widely panned for those remarks.

The man from Welwyn Garden City in England, who also won three Open Championships, always says it how it is though, and that is what has made him such a highly sought-after analyst.

“It’s a whole different kettle of fish nowadays. He’s done way more than me. He’s won 29 times in America.‘Of the all-time greats, I’d put him fifth. Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack [Nicklaus] and Tiger [Woods]. Rory is right there. No discredit to Gene Sarazen, but that was a completely different era. I’ve hardly seen any footage of him, but achieving the grand slam puts you in a different category.

“He obviously got off to a flyer with those first four majors. I remember I said then he might be really disappointed to only win ten majors or he will be ecstatic to win five.‘Tiger [Woods] and [Ben] Crenshaw both had big gaps [also 11 years] but only won one more. Rory is 35, he’s as fit as a fiddle, and you’ve got to believe he’s really shaken the monkey off his back.

“I would’ve thought it’ll set him free and he might be the unique one to go on and win [multiple] more majors.“

Nick Faldo’s comments after Rory McIlroy won the Masters

In all fairness to him, Faldo did get one prediction about McIlroy spot on after the man from Holywood, Northern Ireland, secured his fourth major title at the PGA Championship in 2014, when he suggested that he might struggle to keep winning them so regularly.

Golf fans react to Sir Nick Faldo’s latest Rory McIlroy statement

Faldo has risked the wrath of golf fans the world over with his latest take on the 2025 Masters champion.

During an interview with the Belfast Telegraph, Faldo suggested that McIlroy will struggle to win another major championship.

“It is like climbing Everest, you don’t turn around and say, ‘Let’s go up again next month,’” said Faldo.

“There was so much emotion at Augusta, and you cannot reproduce the emotion to win a major like that again, so I think it will be tough for Rory to win another one.”

And golf fans took to social media in their droves to criticize the six-time major winner’s comments on McIlroy

“Do people not realize how great a season Rory just had? 22 tournaments, four wins, nine Top 5s, eleven Top 10s, seventeen Top 20s, 1 MC, and a Ryder Cup win. He’s playing arguably the best golf of his career right now,” one fan exclaimed.

While another suggested that Faldo’s comments were utter rubbish: “Never read such rubbish, in case people don’t see it. Rory McIlroy is actually still improving as a golfer and his continuous work on his fitness will mean he still has another 10 years at the very top.“

Many other fans agreed with the notion that Faldo made a terrible prediction about McIlroy’s future major aspirations.

Fans stated: “Totally disagree. I’d say Rory McIlroy’s Masters win makes more majors far more likely. The pressure (most of it) is off,“ and “Anyone who had the year Rory just had would be favoured to win one or more majors in the next three years. With his health and swing balance he’ll also be able to compete at Augusta and in The Open into his 40s, like Justin Rose is. Outlook is good.“

Meanwhile, one user on X responded in the simplest manner possible: “This might be the worst take ever.“

Nick Faldo’s ‘absolutely insane’ Rory McIlroy take

Faldo’s comments caused quite the stir on social media on Monday.

One golf fan exclaimed: “That’s just absolutely insane to make that kind of statement after all of Rory’s success and how well he’s playing right now.“

And the hits kept coming as Faldo was pulled from pillar to post by angry fans, with one stating: “Rory will win AT LEAST one more major, he’s playing GREAT GOLF, continues to be scrappy as a teenager, his driver is a cannon, the iron game continues strong, and if the putter is working, look for him to win AT LEAST a couple more times,“ and another simply claiming: “He’s jealous of Rory.“

This sentiment was supported by lots of others, with comments stating: “Faldo said the same thing about Tiger and Phil in the late 90s when Faldo was on the way out. I remember vividly him saying, ‘Tiger won’t get to 10 majors’ and six months later he said, ‘I don’t think Phil even wins 1 major’. He doesn’t want anyone to go past him.“

And: “I think Faldo is concerned about Rory becoming the undisputed greatest European golfer of all time if he wins a 6th major. I think he’s already the greatest European golfer ever considering he’s won 5 majors and the slam, but a 6th would seal the deal.“

It is very clear that many golf fans do not agree with Faldo’s prediction about McIlroy’s hopes of winning another major championship.

Now only time will tell as to whether the six-time major champion actually made a decent point, or not.