Gary Player says it is McIlroy's 'time right now'

Nine times Major winner Gary Player has said that it is Northern Irish golf ace Rory McIlroy's time right now.

It has been a brilliant year of golf by McIlroy, in which he has won two Major Championships, The Open and the US PGA, plus the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. Now the Ryder Cup is just days away, with the whole world of golf expecting more McIlroy magic.

Player, one of only five men to achieve golf's coveted Grand Slam, by winning all four Major Championships, assesses Rory's achievements in 2014 and predicts he will soon become the sixth member of the Grand Slam club and a strong contender for the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award, Sport24 reported.

Player said that to win two Majors with a World Golf Championships event back-to-back is an incredible achievement, adding that when one adds the flagship event on the European Tour, the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, it's been an outstanding season so far for McIlroy.

Player said that he is not surprised at the world number one's recent success, but incredibly happy for him. He added that he has always maintained that the Northern Irishman has got the most beautiful swing in the game.

Player said that if McIlroy can continue to stay happy and healthy he would be the next Grand Slam winner, adding that he's only got the Masters tournament to add to his growing collection.

The South African golfer said that McIlroy is on top of the world right now, with tons of confidence to boot and quickly on his way to become a talisman for the European Ryder Cup team later this month.