McIlroy’s Masters meltdown

CHARL SCHWARTZEL emerged triumphant at the Masters last night at the end of a thrilling final day at Augusta National that saw Rory McIlroy's hopes of a fabled Green Jacket disappear in heartbreaking fashion.

South African Schwartzel, 26, on the 50th anniversary of compatriot Gary Player's first Masters victory, shot a final-round, six-under-par 66,sinking a birdie at the last to win by two strokes from Australian duo Adam Scott and Jason Day.

Another Australian, Geoff Ogilvy, four-time winner Tiger Woods and England's Luke Donald tied for fourth on 10 under par but it was the dramatic collapse of 54-hole leader McIlroy that was the real story on another scorching day under the Georgia sun.

Chubby Chandler got his long-awaited first major victory as a manager last night at the Masters but it is doubtful even he, a renowned gambling man, would not have put money on Schwartzel being the player in his stable to get it for him.

McIlroy, with a four-shot lead that he had built over three almost perfectly executed rounds, looked a much better bet for the founder of International Sports Management company, which also has Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke on its books and signed Ernie Els after his last major victory in 2002.

The 21-year-old from Holywood had banished the demons of a 63, 80, start to last July's Open at St Andrews with rounds of 65, 69 and 70 but nothing had prepared him for a final round in the leading group out last at a Masters.

He bogeyed the opening hole having missed a short par putt and missed a short birdie putt at the third before another short par putt went astray at the fifth and sent him back into a share of the lead at 10 under with the fast-starting Schwartzel, who had eagled the third, and the charging Woods.

McIlroy seemed to be holding it together and then some as he birdied the seventh, his relief at moving back into an outright lead evident as he chugged down a small bottle of water.

But then came disaster. Having gone out in two-over 37, his tee shot at the par-four 10th was hooked horribly, some 100 yards left of the fairway and coming to rest between two of the famous Augusta National cabins.

The scenes as he surveyed his next shot back into the short stuff was reminiscent of Mickelson's meltdown at the 17th at Winged Foot in the 2006 US Open but there was worse to come as, having got back onto the fairway he sent his approach down the hill to the left of the green behind trees, which he struck when trying to chip onto the putting surface. It was a horrible triple bogey seven, from which he looked unable to recover, the energy visibly draining out of him.

McIlroy, having dropped to eight under, then three-putted the 11th for bogey and double bogeyed the par-three 12th, all his good work of the previous three rounds unravelling in front of a worldwide audience.

More woe followed with a bogey at the par-five 15th and it was a tribute to McIlroy's fortitude that hecompleted his round to par on the way to an 80 that left him tied for 15th, his best Masters finish in three starts but undoubtedly the most disappointing.

There was more toughness to come for ‘Wee Mac’ as he performed heroically in front of the American television cameras for a post-round interview that would have been beyond many more seasoned pros.

“It is a very disappointing day, obviously, but hopefully I’ll learn from it and come back a little stronger,” McIlroy said.

“It was my first experience of being in the lead going into the last day of a major and I felt as if I did okay on the front nine and I was still one shot ahead going into the 10th and then things went all pear-shaped after that.

“Hopefully if I can get myself back into this position pretty soon I will hopefully handle it a little bit better.

“It will be pretty tough for me for the next few days but I will get over it. I will be fine. There are a lot worse things that can happen in your life. Shooting a bad score in the last round of a golf tournament is nothing in comparison to what other people go through.

“I led the Masters for 63 holes, for three and a half days. It will take a bit of time to get over it, but I will get over it, and I’ll be stronger because of it.”