Nicklaus says McIlroy must improve to take over as golf's dominant figure

Rory McIlroy closed out 2016 in spectacular fashion, winning two PGA Tour playoff events to take the FedEx Cup. Then he was a rock star at the Ryder Cup, playing out-of-his-mind golf sometimes motivated by what seemed at times like blinding rage and at others by the desire to be the ultimate showman.

McIlroy is hoping that the end of his year will spark a 2017 that takes him back to the top of the Official World Golf Ranking and add to his tally of four majors.

For his part, Jack Nicklaus believes McIlroy still has work to do if he’s to dominate the sport and become one of the best in golf history.

“Rory is one of those young men who has got a tremendous amount of talent,” Nicklaus said to the BBC. “He has won and played on his talent to this point. If he wishes to dominate and go forward then he’s got to improve.”

McIlroy is a streaky putter and, for as often as he hits short irons for approach shots, he is a mediocre player inside of 150 yards. Nicklaus reiterated McIlroy has to improve those facets of his game.

“He has to work hard, he’s got to focus on what he is trying to do and it is up to him,” Nicklaus said. “Certainly he has all the tools to be able to do it – it is just whether he has the desire and the willingness to give up some other things. And that’s his call.”

Just about to enter the peak of his career in a game that is becoming increasingly dominated by increasingly younger players, McIlroy, Nicklaus believes, has the foundation to become of the players on golf’s Mt. Rushmore.

“Whether he wants to be the greatest player to have played the game, that’s his determination,” Nicklaus said, “and it’s his decision whether he wants to make that effort to try to do that.”

Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.