Europe's Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke is in no doubt that Rory McIlroy will win the Masters sooner rather than later and secure a career Grand Slam.

Only five men - Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tiger Woods - have won all four major competitions.

McIlroy looked on course for Masters glory in 2011 when he led by four strokes heading into the final round, but the Northern Irishman imploded and shot 80 to finish tied for 15th.

He has since gone on to win the PGA Championship twice, as well as the US Open and The Open, meaning he goes into next month's event at the iconic Augusta course looking to join the likes of Nicklaus and Woods in the list of Grand Slam winners.

"Rory's the sort of player who can win anywhere, any time," Clarke told Sky Sports.

"He started this year well in the desert and then went to the States where he hasn't quite found his full game yet.

"But it's only a matter of time before he wins at Augusta - whether it's this year, next year, whenever.

"His game is ideally suited to playing a high, long draw which you need at Augusta."

Clarke will lead Europe in next year's Ryder Cup at the Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minnesota and the captain says the extra responsibility has given him a more freedom to enjoy his own game.

"The honour of being awarded the captaincy means I'm thinking a little bit less about my own game," he said.

"I tend to think too much at times about my game and I'm now thinking about other things like the Ryder Cup and that's taken my mind off technique.

"And these past few weeks I've played a lot better but maybe that is because I'm not thinking too much about technique or anything like that and just going out and playing golf."