Rory McIlroy
McIlroy is a Masters green jacket away from completing a career grand slam Getty Images

World No.1 Rory McIlroy will complete a career grand slam at the Masters but not necessarily in 2015, according to American pair Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.

McIlroy will become the seventh player to win all four of golf's major titles should he prevail at Augusta this week, a list which already includes Ben Hogan, Bobby Jones, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Gene Sarazen and Woods.

The 25-year-old won two majors in 2014 at The Open Championship and the US PGA Championship to stand on the brink of history and Woods believes it is just a matter of time until the Northern Irish player claims his first green jacket.

"I look back when I did [completed the grand slam] in 2000, I couldn't ask for a better place to do it at other than St Andrews, the home of golf," said Woods.

"And for Rory, you couldn't ask for the other better place to do it, which is here at Augusta. It doesn't get much better than that.

"He has that opportunity and he's going to have that opportunity for decades to come. But I'm sure he'll have many green jackets in his closet before it's all said and done."

In 2011, McIlroy threw away a four shot lead going into the final round, eventually finishing 10 behind champion Charl Schwartzel in his best finish at the opening major of the year.

Ryan Moore and Mickelson have been partnered with McIlroy for the first two rounds and the latter – a three-time winner in Georgia – says an opportunity will present itself for him to win the elusive fourth major.

"I think the Masters is very well suited for Rory," Mickelson said. "He almost won here a couple of years ago – he was leading heading into the back nine.

"The type of length and ball-striking that he has, I think this a course that he is going to be tough at for the rest of his career.

"Whether it's this week or not, you never know – you always need a bit of luck, a bit of a break to win any tournament and maybe he gets it this week, maybe he doesn't.

"Over the course of 15, 20 years, he'll get those breaks and he'll win the Masters."