Rory McIlroy secured his second Masters at Augusta on Sunday and the sixth major of his career. He has equalled the six of Nick Faldo and has one more than Seve Ballesteros. Minutes after slipping on the Green Jacket, the debate was already wide open: can it already be said that he is the greatest European of all time or are the other two still ahead? If the latter, what does he need to be better than Faldo or Seve?
Ten Golf is these days at Izki Golf for the season opener on the PGA of Spain circuit and we took the opportunity to pose this debate to some of the Spanish professionals. We assume local loyalty plays a part and that factor favours Ballesteros, but it must be said the answers are very varied and we would even say McIlroy comes out as the winner.
A few general clarifications. Faldo does not enter the conversation. The matter is solely between Seve and Rory. Sorry, Nick. The next thing is that there is debate and, at times, a very heated one. We dropped the question over the lunch table, soon after the Pro Am finished and minutes before some went out to play the practice round in a fine, light drizzle. The bomb explodes…
Jordi García del Moral, for example, cannot believe that not everyone would say without thinking that Rory already is. “It pains me to say it for Seve, just so you know, but I think it is indisputable. What Rory has done is already monstrous. The six majors, what he has won on the PGA Tour, his weeks at Number One, the orders of merit on the DP World Tour, the FedEx Cup and that when he has gone long stretches without winning majors he has raked in seconds, thirds and top 10s”.
Álvaro Quirós, who does not shy away from a face-to-face on life matters, whether this topic, Cholo Simeone or the sex of angels, chimes in at once and backs Seve without ambiguity. “I talk about something that goes beyond the numbers. I mean his transcendence and relevance in history. What Seve did for the Ryder Cup and European golf is incomparable, his charisma, his presence. I believe that is above whether he has one more or one fewer majors”, he objects.
That said, the man from Guadiaro also covers his tracks regarding what Rory can still achieve. “Look, if he won four more majors, I don’t know, if he reached ten, then it would be very hard not to say he is the greatest European of all time. But I insist that I go beyond on-course performance, I talk about legacy, the strength of his figure”, he points out.
The discussion heats up. Gonzalo Fernández Castaño does not mince words, that is to say, as he is. “Rory without doubt. Well, until last year there could have been doubts, because he hadn’t reached Faldo’s number in the majors. It’s true that, obviously, the variety of Rory’s majors far exceeds Faldo’s, but I think, above all, if we look at his PGA Tour wins, which are many more in Rory’s case… It’s true Faldo has his six and 30 in Europe… And better than Seve because he has one more major. Majors are very big. That’s what counts. Another matter is if we don’t talk about sporting dimension but about the figure, there Seve may perhaps still be something more”.
Another who backs Rory McIlroy without discussion is Mario Galiano and he adds an interesting nuance: Maradona or Messi? “I haven’t seen Seve either, so I can’t tell you much… It’s like comparing Messi with Maradona. I haven’t seen Maradona. But, for me, I think yes, Rory. I think the level of golf he has is far superior to the others. Sergio, in his prime, okay, maybe he was at that level, but Rory has been many more years.
McIlroy is the definitive pick of Alfredo García Heredia. The Asturian assures that “the best is already Rory for the level he has maintained over the last 20 years… and what remains for him”. However, for Ángel Hidalgo the Northern Irishman still has ground to cover. “There are many ways to value it. In majors he has equalled Faldo and surpassed Seve, but then there’s the part about what he transmits, what reaches people, and there I think he may still be a little behind Seve. In that sense, I would put him number two. I would say he is still, not far away, honestly, but still a step behind because of the matter of transcending, which is what Seve had. The only way I think he could enter another dimension from my point of view would be to win all four in the same year. I mean the absolute Grand Slam, which no one has done. And watch out, I think he is capable. If, hitting the ball as he hit it over the weekend, he wins the Masters, that’s the scariest thing. For me, that’s why he is even one step ahead of Scheffler. Scottie wins in consistency, but if both are at their best form, I think Rory has an extra gear”.
José Manuel Lara also casts his vote for Rory McIlroy. “Faldo didn’t have charisma. So, clearly, Rory is a guy who has charisma and I think Seve is above Faldo too. In the end, he’s alongside Seve, I’d seat them together, simply that he has one more major. That’s why I place him a little above Seve.
One who doesn’t quite take a side, or at least doesn’t see why one must be chosen, is Jacobo Pastor. He explains it. “I don’t like comparing different eras. The equipment is different, the competition is different. Without doubt, he is the best player of the last… I don’t know, I’d say of the last 30 years, for sure. But enough to place him on that historical rung, for me, no. Also because I find it difficult to compare eras. Because I would never do it with anyone. I wouldn’t even compare Tiger Woods with Jack Nicklaus”.
And you, what do you think? Is Rory McIlroy already the greatest European in history or what does he need to surpass Seve or Faldo?
