The five golfers Sir Nick Faldo named as the greatest of all-time including Rory McIlroy

Sir Nick Faldo is one of the best players ever to have graced the game.

Faldo won 43 professional tournaments worldwide, including six major championships.

However, the Englishman was unable to match Rory McIlroy’s achievements in the sport.

Rory McIlroy has won the same amount of majors as Sir Nick Faldo, but crucially, the Northern Irishman has completed the career Grand Slam.

Faldo is a huge admirer of McIlroy, and the 37-year-old from Holywood, Northern Ireland, has undoubtedly been one of the most successful players in the game over the past 15 years.

So much so that Faldo actually thinks McIlroy is one of the five greatest golfers ever to have graced the game.

The five golfers Sir Nick Faldo named as the greatest of all-time

Faldo was delighted to see McIlroy finally complete the career Grand Slam at The Masters back in 2025.

After McIlroy triumphed at Augusta National last year, Faldo told The Times that he regards the Northern Irishman as one of the five greatest golfers of all time.

“It’s a whole different kettle of fish nowadays. He’s done way more than me. He’s won 29 times in America,” the Englishman said.

“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.”

Rory McIlroy named the best player out of Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus

Back in 2019 during an appearance on The Golf Channel, McIlroy was asked who he believes to be the greatest golfer of all time.

“In the history of our game no one has played better golf than Tiger Woods,” McIlroy replied.

“When you look – 2000, 2001, that whole stretch – no one has played the caliber of golf that he played then.

“That’s why I think he is the best player to ever live, because no one reached the levels that he did. In my estimation, he is the best to ever do it.”

It’s hard to argue with that viewpoint, although it must be noted that nobody has won more major championships than Jack Nicklaus in the history of the sport.

Nicklaus’ record of 18 majors may never be beaten and that says a lot about the Golden Bear’s standing in the game.