Jack Nicklaus wasted no time in congratulating Rory McIlroy after his win at the Masters on Sunday - and for becoming only the sixth golfer to win the career grand slam.
Nicklaus, the North Palm Beach resident, called into the CBS' post-Masters telecast soon after McIlroy, who lives in Jupiter, defeated Justin Rose on the first playoff hole.
"I'm so happy for him. I'm delighted for him," Nicklaus said. "It will take the world off his shoulders and you're now going to see a lot more of really good golf out of Rory McIlroy."
Nicklaus told his wife, Barbara, that he thought McIlroy was going to miss his putt on the 18th in regulation. "And he didn't (make the putt)," he said. "That's been his nemesis. When he got there the second time around (in the playoff), first I said, Justin's putt is not going to break left. And he'll see that and his putt was a pretty straight putt, which I think it was. He put it left-center and it stayed there."
Nicklaus reached the grand slam in 1966 when he won the British Open. He already had won the 1962 U.S. Open, 1963 Masters and 1963 PGA Championship.
Nicklaus, an 18-time major champion, questioned some of the shots McIlroy took during the final round.
"It takes a really, really talented player to win with some of the shots that Rory hit," he said.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Rory McIlroy gets congratulations from Jack Nicklaus after Masters win
