Legendary caddie makes 'final nail in the coffin' Rory McIlroy claim

Legendary caddie Billy Foster has joined the camp that believes Rory McIlroy will win The Masters before he retires. 

Barring injury, McIlroy will embark on his 11th attempt to complete the career grand slam at Augusta National in April. 

He has started the year in good form - winning at Pebble Beach - and when he speaks his voice is that of a man who appears to be increasingly unburdened by the PGA Tour's schism with LIV Golf. 

"McIlroy can definitely win The Masters," Foster said. "I mean, the way he finished last year and the way he's come out this year, even if you look at Pebble Beach - if it's the Rory of old he's just wanging that driver down the last hole. 

"He had had a two or three-shot lead and he thought, you know, I'll hit an iron down there and laid it up and hit it on and won the tournament comfortably."

Perhaps the biggest disappointment of McIlroy's career to date transpired at the 2024 U.S. Open. 

He overhauled a three-shot lead and had a two-shot cushion with five holes to play before he made bogey in three out of his final four holes at Pinehurst No.2.

McIlroy's choice of club off the tees - particularly at the par-3 16th and the 18th - were called into question.

"Maybe there was an argument that he might have done that [used a different club] at the U.S. Open but you know I think that experience will be really positive for him," Foster said.  

"I think he'll definitely win a major this year and at the end of the day it was the two foot putt that did him on the 16th. 

"That cost him the US Open. It really rattled him. You could see that. 

"I think it'll be the experience that'll make him a lot stronger and I believe he'll definitely win a major this year. He's too good."

So what does McIlroy need to do to win his fifth major title this year?

"He just needs to play like Rory McIlroy does," Foster said. 

What happened to him at the US Open last year will have really hurt him.

"I've been there before. I'm not a player but I've been involved in many situations in major championships where you potentially go home in tears. 

"I'm sure Rory did and it hurt him tremendously for months after.

"I think it would be good for him now and I think he'll come out stronger and I believe he will win a major this year.

"I think that experience will be the final nail in the coffin. I think it will make him stronger. I don't think it will be a negative."

Foster is not alone in thinking McIlroy will slip on the green jacket one day. 

In January, Jack Nicklaus doubled down on his assertion that McIlroy will get over the line. 

"He's just too good not to," the Golden Bear said. "He's got a lot more majors in him, he's just got to get them out."

McIlroy's has spoken at length about his disappointments in Georgia. 

Before last year's major, McIlroy admitted that pressure means he sometimes does things he wouldn't normally do. 

"And I'm completely open about that," he said. "I think I need to embrace that, instead of shutting it away."

Foster was speaking to Genting Casino. 

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