Nicklaus says too early to anoint McIlroy

American golf great Jack Nicklaus believes it's too early to describe Rory McIlroy as the sport's next superstar.

The column inches have stacked up for the 22-year-old McIlroy since he swept to his first major title by winning the US Open at Congressional by eight shots last month.

Many have predicted a new era of dominance from the Northern Irishman, filling the void left by the injury-plagued Tiger Woods, but Nicklaus sounded a note of caution ahead of next week's British Open at Sandwich.

"Don't anoint him as the crown prince yet," Nicklaus said yesterday. "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 an opportunity to win. Rory (has] been a factor in every one of the majors over the last year. He could have won the Masters and (last year's) 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."

While McIlroy heads to Royal St. George's as outright favourite with the British bookmakers to land the year's third major, Woods is resting after failing to recover from injuries to his left knee and Achilles' tendon.

It has been nearly two months since Woods last played and he has slipped to No. 17 in the world and the chances of increasing his tally of 14 majors to challenge Nicklaus' record haul are fading.

But Nicklaus says there's life in his 35-year-old countryman yet ."He's a very determined and talented young man, and I think he's determined to get himself healthy," he said. "He's still plenty young enough to play a lot of good golf."