In one of his frankest ever admissions Rory McIlroy confessed he ‘choked’ and then ‘cried’ in losing the Masters earlier this year. 

Rory McIlroy on route to a 65 on day one of this year's Masters.

For three days, McIlroy dominated this year’s first Major Championship shooting an opening round 65 to become the youngest-ever player to lead the Masters.

He then posted a second day 69 to lead by two and stormed his way to a  confident four shot on day three recording a 70 for a 12-under par total, and with only a round to play.

History seemed to be on McIlroy’s side as he attempted to become the first Irishman to win the Masters.

He played the last group in the company of former champion, Angel Cabrera, and with the exception of one year over the past 20 years, the winner of the Masters has come from the last group.

But it all began to turn horribly sour for McIroy after taking a bogey at the first.

Rory McIlroy's final round score appearing on the main Augusta National scoreboard. (Photo - www.golfbytourmiss.com)

McIlroy eventually posted a final round 80 to lose by 10 shots to South African Charl Schwartzel.

However if there was a point in that Augusta last round where McIlroy said he felt like crying it was the sight of him leaning on his driver in utter disbelief after his ball landed in Shea’s Creek down the left side of the 13th.

“After what happened at 13, I just felt like crying because even after what happened on 10, I thought to myself I still had chances on 13, 15 and 16,” he said

“But what happened on 13 was the one that took all that away.

“I didn’t actually cry, not until the next morning.

“I didn’t even speak to mum and dad until then.  They’re might have been something they said like ‘It’ll be ok’ but I said ‘No, it won’t be ok’.

“At the time I felt it might be the only chance I had to win and I’ve blown it.  I had so many thoughts and emotions going through my head that day.

”So part of the motivation going to Congressional was trying to prove a lot of people wrong, and to prove something to myself, that I wasn’t one of those players who crumbles under the pressure, who folds, or chokes, and I hate using word choke, but that’s exactly what happened at Masters.

Rory McIlroy being comforted by his caddy J P Fitzgerald after ending 10 shots behind Charl Schwartzel.

“I went to the U.S. Open needing to improve my putting, so that’s why went to see Stockton.  He was a big help, and I knew if I’d putted well the first three days I would have been out of sight.”

Out of sight he was and into the record books as the youngest-ever U.S. Open champion since Bobby Jones in 1923.

McIlroy made peace with his parents and unlike Augusta, and he also made sure his father, Jerry was close-by when he went to Congressional, so much so the sight on Father’s Day of McIlroy embracing his father beside the 18th will remain one of the fondest memories of the 2011 golfing season.

“One of big differences at the U.S. Open compared to Augusta was having dad there at Congressional, and having breakfast with him on the Sunday,” said McIlroy.

“We talked it through.  He said the right things saying that I had played so well for three rounds and to keep doing what you’re doing, and concentrate on what I can do in my own little bubble.

“It was important that it was said by my dad.

“So it was more reassuring coming from him rather than sports psychologist or someone else, coming from someone who knows you better than anyone in the world.

“But the Master s is where I felt I grew up and from the disappointment at Augusta to coming back to win, the elation of that, and going to Haiti to be involved with Unicef has made me appreciate things a whole lot better.

“Things I haven’t had to deal with before, like my personal life and becoming an interest to the public”.

And McIlroy was asked if he thinks he will ever cry again at a golf tournament.

“Hopefully it will be tears of joy as golf is not worth crying over,” he said.

“Besides it’s only a game!”