McIlroy gets the all-clear

Rory McIlroy was cleared to continue in The Masters only after returning to Augusta National at around 8.40pm last night to meet with officials.

After finishing his second round in late afternoon McIlroy faced possible disqualification over kicking sand in a bunker by the 18th green after failing to get out of it first time.

But eventually it was ruled that it was not a breach of the rules.

A statement by 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.”

McIlroy, lying in sixth place with three holes to play, double-bogeyed the 16th by four-putting, then ran up a triple bogey on the last to finish the day 10 adrift of leaders Chad Campbell and Kenny Perry.

He made the halfway cut with nothing to spare at one over par.