US Masters: Rory McIlroy had a day at The Masters yesterday he will never forget — right through to a meeting with rules investigators last night that eventually cleared him to play the last two rounds.

Everything was going exactly as the 19-year-old hoped on his debut when he charged from 39th place to sixth with three holes of his second round to play.

Then he four-putted the short 16th for a double bogey five. And then he ran up a triple-bogey seven on the 18th which meant he tumbled down to 42nd spot and survived the halfway cut with nothing to spare at one over par.

It hurt him so badly that when told that reporters wanted to speak to him he said “I don’t feel like it right now” and walked on.

That was at 4.15pm. But at around 8.40pm McIlroy returned to the club at the request of officials and was shown television coverage of him in a bunker by the 18th green.

Failing to get out first time, golf’s most exciting young player had kicked the sand. The incident was raised and an inquiry — a very long inquiry — began.

Eventually, over four hours later, a statement was issued saying that McIlroy, facing disqualification from his first major as a professional if it had gone the other way, was not being penalised.

Augusta National competitions committee chairman Fred Ridley said: “A question was raised regarding Rory McIlroy’s actions.

“The Rules of Golf (13-4) prohibit a player from testing the condition of a hazard before playing a stroke in the hazard.

“The decisions interpreting the rule state that kicking the ground in the hazard constitutes testing the condition.

“However, the rules allow the player to smooth sand or soil in the hazard after making a stroke provided that, with regard to his next stroke, nothing is done to improve the position or lie of his ball, the area of his intended swing, his line of play or a reasonable extension of his line beyond the hole or the area in which he is drop or place a ball.

“At the request of the committee McIlroy returned to the club at approximately 8.40pm, met with the committee and reviewed the CBS tape.

“Based on the tape and Mr McIlroy’s statement of what had taken place after he played the shot it was determined that no violation of the rules had occurred.”