This year’s Masters was billed as a battle between Tiger Woods and Rory Mcllroy and there was no separating them after they each finished a shock five over par totals at Augusta National
Both finished well down the Masters Easter Sunday parade with no Easter bunny and no Easters eggs to show for the four days.
McIlroy again stumbled his way about the stately Georgia pines with a closing round of 76 and with Woods hardly any better in a score of 74.
Despite all suggestions to the contrary, McIlroy drove down Magnolia Lane and out of the Augusta National front gates still carrying the emotional scars of last year’s Masters meltdown.
How else do you explain a red-hot pre-Augusta National favourite ending well down the field in 41st place.
So many former champions, including Mark O’Meara, Fred Couples, Mike Weir and three-time Masters winner Phil Mickelson, were each quizzed in the lead-up to this year’s first Major on McIlroy’s mental make-up this week.
Well two double bogeys in three rounds at Augusta’s first along with a double on Saturday at the seventh hole plus eight bogeys over the three rounds suggested the Georgia golfing gem still has the upper hand on McIlroy.
He went out again to prove everyone on the final day but then a bogey at the first, that put him five over on the opening hole for the week, suggested it would be another disappointing Augusta journey.
McIlroy, who played in the company of fellow Ulsterman and U.S. Open winner, Graeme McDowell, dropped further shots at five and seven before the first of just three birdies in the round at the uphill par four, ninth for an outward nine of 38.
The inward half started just as poor with bogeys at 10, 11 and 14 before ending birdie, par, birdie and par and also 38 for nine holes.
“It was a disappointing weekend, just one of those things,” said McIlroy.
“I played pretty well over the first couple of days and then came out Saturday and didn’t have it on the front nine, and that sort of killed me for the rest of the tournament.
“But I will come back next year and try my best again.”
In contrast, McDowell secured his best Masters finish in five appearances and also shooting his lowest ever Augusta score of 68 for a two over par tally.
His previous best finish was 17th in 2009 while his lowest round before this year was 69 on the first and final day that same year.
McDowell grabbed three birdies on each half including back-to-back effort at the seventh and eighth holes and also the 15th and 16th.
And for much of the round both McDowell and McIlroy enjoyed the opportunity to walk the course together, and at times, as it they were playing one of their many practice rounds together.
“It was fun,” said McDowell.
“In a funny way, the roars and the cheers going up around here, they do energize you.
“There’s something fun about laughing and joking with the crowd as another bomb goes off, another hole‑in‑one goes in, and it’s just fun.”
McIlroy went into the last day of the year’s first Major bitterly disappointed after earlier scores of 75, 72 and 71.
But now after a 68, and on firmer and harder greens, he can’t wait to get back.
“I’d love this tournament to be starting tomorrow because if this tournament was to be starting tomorrow I’d fancy my chances,” he said
“The golf course as wet as it was on Thursday and Friday was not the golf course for me.
“I am just not driving it long enough, not shaping it from right to left well enough, and I was able to handle a little bit more these firmer fairways.
“But after Saturday’s round I went back and practiced a little bit and I sat on the couch and I watched the coverage.
“It’s just exciting. It’s a fun tournament to watch because of the risk‑reward of the back nine here, because of the opportunities it does give you, and it’s a fun tournament.
“ Like I said, I’ve said it a few times this week, this golf course isn’t the perfect setup for me, but as the golf course got faster and firmer this week, all of a sudden I started to see my way around it.
“But I’ll be back, as Arnold said.
“So I’m looking forward to many more Augusta’s, many more Masters championships, and like I said, I’d love to put that green jacket on my back. But that was another couple of rounds towards achieving that goal sometime.”
