GOLF:JACK NICKLAUS has predicted US Open champion Rory McIlroy will win many more major titles, but warned: "Don't anoint him as the crown prince yet."

Nicklaus, whose 18 majors make him the game’s most successful player, sees McIlroy staying at the top of the sport for years to come.

“I think Rory will add a lot of majors,” Nicklaus told BBC Radio. “Rory is a very talented young man who’s been a factor in every one of the majors over the last year.

“He could have won the Masters and the US Open, he could have won the British Open last year. He’s a talented young man we’re going to see on the scene for a long time.”

However, Nicklaus added a note of caution, insisting it was too early to judge McIlroy, as a player who can dominate golf.

“Don’t anoint him as the crown prince yet,” Nicklaus said. “He has won one major.

“When he starts to win two, three or four, then you can say he’s the guy we’ve got to watch, period. But until that time comes, he’s one of a group of talented players that have got an opportunity to win.”

Ian Poulter expects big things of McIlroy at the British Open Championship, which begins at Royal St George’s on Thursday.

“His form can only be good – he won the US Open the last time he played,” said Poulter. “There’s going to be lot of media attention around him, not only from the US Open but there’ll be a lot of pressure on him to deliver again at the Open.

“But he’ll be in great form. He’s a naturally good ball-striker and he’s going to be ready to go and hungry to try to win.”