Rory McIlroy’s bid for an elusive first U.S. Masters title and the grand slam of golf’s major championships has received an unexpected boost from the long-range weather forecast.

NEXT year’s U.S. Masters will be contested on the second longest course in major championship history after tournament organisers announced that six holes at Augusta National would be lengthened.

WORLD number three Ernie Els fired a flawless seven-under-par 65 to cruise to a 13-stroke victory at the storm-affected BMW Asian Open yesterday.