What it was like at Augusta National to witness Rory McIlroy etch his latest masterpiece

At the Masters, where every roar carries meaning, requiring detective work before the manual scoreboard confirms what has happened elsewhere on the course, Rory McIlroy gave us another nerve-shredding spectacle

CROWD PLEASER: Double Masters champion Rory McIlroy holds the ‘patrons’ in thrall as he negotiates the treacherous par 3 12th in style during the final round at Augusta National. A birdie there would be followed by another on the par 5 13th. Pic: Thomas Lovelock/Augusta National/Getty Images

One of the curiosities of Augusta National is how quickly you become accustomed to assessing noise levels and decoding the delayed updates of its manual scoreboards. If the special attraction is the sights, the added delight is the sounds.

That ranges from the ethereal bird song echoing around the course (yes, we did see plenty of real birdies about the place) to the mechanical whirr of old-school disposable cameras during practice days, culminating in the cavernous roars during the tournament.