Padraig Harrington predicts how many times Rory McIlroy will win The Masters before he retires

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Rory McIlroy’s latest win at The Masters was celebrated wildly by Irish golf, including his fellow player Padraig Harrington.

McIlroy claimed his second green jacket with a one-shot victory over Scottie Scheffler, having also won the tournament in 2025.

He completed the career grand slam with that success, which evidently massively eased the pressure on his shoulders at one of the most difficult courses in world golf.

McIlroy’s latest triumph at Augusta has now been discussed by Harrington, who boasts three major championship wins from his superb career.

Padraig Harrington says Rory McIlroy could win The Masters 10 times

Irish legend Harrington spoke to the media ahead of this week’s Senior PGA Championship at Concession Golf Course, where he was asked if he watched The Masters on Sunday.

Confirming that he did, Harrington said of the result and the state of Irish golf: “It’s great for Irish golf. We’ve added another major title, which is very nice.

“We’ve been doing very well at the top of the table. Not so well at the bottom of the table. We haven’t had a lot of new guys come onto tour.

“I think when I started out on tour, there was 15 Irish guys on the European Tour. I played the first four events. This year I was the only Irish guy. Yeah, we’re strong at the top.

“As regards to Masters, Rory could win 10 of them at this stage or five of them, anyway. He probably will still be competitive at 50 years of age around that golf course.

“For him, it was interesting that he won that one with his short game, which makes him even better a player.

“Over the years it’s physicality to driving and the iron play. He’s always been a superb chipper, but now it’s with the putting and things like that.

“A very rounded game and a game that looks like it has a lot of longevity in it. So he’s in a very nice place going forward, particularly at that tournament that you would think.

“It’s amazing when you win one, that he’s now got two, and we’re thinking that maybe two or three or five would be realistic around that golf course.

“But, yeah, he showed some real good character there. You know, psychology-wise he really won that tournament.

“His mentality and how he went about things, that’s a very strong showing for him.

“He obviously still has the physical side of the game, but to show that short game and the mental side of the game means he looks like he would be a very strong force for a while to come in the game.”

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Can Rory McIlroy catch the all-time greats at The Masters?

It truly was a strong mental showing from McIlroy, who had to recover from remarkably blowing a six-shot lead after two rounds.

And there was also a real touch of class from the Northern Irishman with his chipping, but arguably more so with his putting.

Brian Campbell hit the fewest putts at The Masters, but McIlroy ranked third on the greens behind only him and Collin Morikawa.

The focus now turns to just how many times he can claim the green jacket, which is a list topped by Jack Nicklaus.

He won The Masters six times, followed by the five of Tiger Woods, with Harrington confident that McIlroy can at least mount a serious challenge to those numbers.

McIlroy thinks he can compete in majors for another 10 years, with that revelation and his current form suggesting many more wins are a real possibility.

With two wins at Augusta, he’s just matched players such as Scottie Scheffler and Seve Ballesteros, with three-time champions like Phil Mickelson and Gary Player now in his sights.

Harrington meanwhile never triumphed at The Masters, but won The Open Championship twice and the PGA Championship once.

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