The Northern Irish golfer completed the career Grand Slam and ended an 11-year wait for a fifth major title at Augusta last month and Rahm is confident that the floodgates will open now for the world number two.

Speaking ahead of the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow this week, the Spaniard said: "I would not be one bit surprised if this lifted a weight off his shoulders that could get him going on another run, a bit like Xander (Schauffele) did last year.

"Wins one, gets another one, gets in contention many times, like Scottie [Scheffler] and many other players have done. A player of his calibre, you never know."

McIlroy had endured several near-misses at The Masters before finally winning the Green Jacket - most notably when he capitulated when leading in the final round back in 2011 - and Rahm thinks that he will win more majors after overcoming the Augusta "hurdle".

The two-time major winner said: "To be honest, if that Masters in 2011 had gone his way, I think he would have achieved so much more than he has already.

"I think it's been a very difficult hurdle to overcome. You could see his emotion towards the end just because it was his real first chance to win a major, and that's how it went down.

"I understand he won the US Open shortly after by a record margin, but every time he went to Augusta, that was on his mind.

"When you see Rory's game, every time I go down to Augusta National, I'm like, 'If there's ever a golf course that is perfect for this man who can hit a high draw on command better than anybody else, has great hands and great touch, it's him.'"