Legend Jack Nicklaus leads the praise for Rory McIlroy as Bay Hill triumph makes him Masters favourite
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Jack Nicklaus insisted Arnold Palmer would have been proud of Rory ­McIlroy’s stunning comeback win at Bay Hill.
The new world No.7 is now the Masters favourite after his first victory for 18 months at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, helped by the best putting week of his career.
McIlroy last triumphed at the Tour Championship on September 25, 2016 – the day Palmer passed away.
And Nicklaus, the winner of 18 Major titles, was quick to offer his heartfelt congratulations after the Ulsterman left a star-studded field trailing in his wake with a superb closing eight-under 64.
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“You had been struggling – by your standards – but no longer,” tweeted the American. “You were playing beautifully this week. And obviously the putter was working very well. I am so pleased to see you win at my old friend Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill. AP would have been very proud and would have loved to greet you on 18. I offer an AP thumbs-up on a job well done."
McIlroy, who began the final round two shots adrift of overnight leader ­Henrik Stenson, said: “This win means a lot. I’ve had quite a connection with Arnold Palmer over the past few years.
“Hopefully he’s up there ­smiling and hopefully he’s proud of me with the way I played that back nine.”
Since his last win, McIlroy had his first season without a victory since turning pro as he suffered from a nagging rib ­injury, changed equipment, and got married.
But the 28-year-old insisted: “I never lost belief. I know that I’ve got a gift for this game and I know that if I put the time in I can make a lot of it. I guess that’s what’s kept me going.”
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But this brilliant ball-striker is more hit-and-miss on the greens.
He took 39 putts in the second round while missing the cut at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am — including a ­horrible five-putt.
Yet a putting clinic with Brad Faxon last Monday saw him need only 100 putts in four rounds in Florida as he led the field in strokes gained on the green for the first time.
“He just freed me up,” McIlroy said. “I’m trying to get back to feeling how I did as a kid, when your instinct takes over. The last time I had freedom like this was probably 2014.”
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That was when he won three consecutive tournaments, ­including two Majors.
And McIlroy, who is a notoriously streaky player, is hot before his latest bid to complete his career Grand Slam at the Masters.
“It’s huge for my confidence,” he said. “I kept saying I didn’t need a win going into Augusta to feel like I had a chance. I just wanted to see signs of good golf, and thankfully I’ve been able to get both.”
McIlroy, who was outside the world’s top 10 before Bay Hill, will now compete at this week’s World Golf Championship Match Play in Texas.