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Nicklaus still expects Garcia to win a major

Sergio Garcia was among the chasing pack at the US Open © Getty Images

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Jack Nicklaus is confident Sergio Garcia will win at least one major championship before the end of his career.

The Spaniard, 31, has struggled for form and confidence in recent years after bursting onto the scene as a fresh-faced teenager at the turn of the millennium.

A major title has so far eluded him - a playoff defeat to Padraig Harrington in the 2007 Open Championship his best finish to date - but, after solid showings at both The Masters and US Open in 2011, Nicklaus believes the Spaniard is too good not to make the breakthrough in the next few years.

"Of course, I think he is still able to win a big one," Nicklaus told Marca. "He's a great player, still young, and I would be very surprised if Sergio does not win at least one major."

Eighteen-time major champion Nicklaus was a vocal supporter of Rory McIlroy's long before the 22-year-old romped to his first major title in the US Open at Congressional just over two weeks ago.

However, the American believes McIlroy will have to wait a little while before he becomes the dominant force in European and world golf.

"It's great. He's 21 but an impressive player and a good person," Nicklaus said. "Rory will probably soon be the No. 1 and will have a great chance to keep it for a long time, but not yet.

"[Luke] Donald is a hard worker, and [Lee] Westwood and [Martin] Kaymer are too. I think it will go in cycles."

The absence of Tiger Woods has enabled a number of players to compete to be world No. 1. Nicklaus is unsure when the 14-time major champion will be able to return to competitive action - or if he will return at the same level he once played.

"Everything depends on him. Nobody really knows how bad his injury is and how long it will stay that way," he said.

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