RORY McIlROY had the Green Jacket, one of golf’s status symbols, all sized up for his athletic shoulders. All he had to do was go out on to the beautifully manicured haven that is Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia and to continue doing what he had done for the three previous rounds to claim the US Masters title.
Easier said than done, of course.
Unfortunately, McIlroy – the 21-year-old Ulsterman seeking to become the first Irish winner of the Masters tournament – was taken on a roller-coaster ride that spiralled only one way: downwards!
And in a cruel and unforgiving collapse reminiscent of that of Greg Norman in 1996, McIlroy became the central character in his own version of an Aristotelian drama. Tragedy without any comedy.
Instead, the famous jacket was placed on the shoulders of South African Charl Schwartzel by last year’s champion Phil Mickelson. Schwartzel finished with a final round 66 for a 72-hole total of 274, 14 under par, which gave him a two-stroke winning margin over Australians Jason Day and Adam Scott.
Former world number one, Tiger Woods, finished in tied-fourth.
McIlroy – seeking to emulate his fellow Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell, who captured last year’s US Open title – was given a cruel lesson on this famous course which traditionally plays host to the Masters.
Having started the final round with a four-stroke lead over his nearest challenger, McIlroy endured a nightmare final day as the temperatures soared close to 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
He finished with a final round 80, taking all of 42 strokes on the homeward run, to sign for a total of 284 in tied-15th place.
It was a hugely disappointing ending for McIlroy, who was seeking to become the youngest winner of the Masters since Tiger Woods in 1997.
“I hit a poor tee shot on 10 and just unravelled from there and couldn’t get it back. I’m very disappointed and I am sure I will be for a few days . . . hopefully it will build a little bit of character in me,” said McIlroy afterwards.