Rory McIlroy’s fourth round at The Masters wasn’t what he hoped it would be.
There was a lot of good news for Rory McIlroy on Sunday, but there was almost as much bad news. First the good: McIlroy had seven birdies in the round, shooting a one under 71, a day after shooting five over 77. He had no birdies in the round on Saturday for the first time in his 80 rounds at major championships. But to go along with his seven birdies Sunday, McIlroy also carded six bogeys.
McIlroy began the round by missing the fairway, and taking bogey on the first hole. He found the sand on the second with another wayward drive, but was able to save par. A brilliant drive on the third hole gave McIlroy an eagle opportunity that was just off the cup. He tapped in for his first birdie in 23 holes.
But what has been all too familiar for McIlroy this weekend happened again on the fourth, when another errant tee shot found the bushes. A blind shot from the woods found the green somehow, but he was unable to hole the 15 foot putt and had to settle for another bogey.
The fifth hole was more of the same: a bad tee shot found the sand, and McIlroy carded his third bogey in his first five holes.
A huge drive on the eighth landed just 10 feet from the hole, but again McIlroy was not able to produce any putter magic. He settled for birdie.
The tenth hole: McIlroy found the bunker, and took bogey.
The 11th hole cost him any chance of catching the leaders when his second shot found the water for the second day in a row. He would hit a sensational chip from the drop spot to escape with bogey.
McIlroy had one final run in him however, when he birdied 13, 14 and 15 to move to one over par and for a moment into the top 12. Another three-putt on the 16th deflated all the momentum the previous three holes provided. McIlroy was able to get a birdie on the final hole to break par for the round, but a look of disappointment knew that it was far too little and far too late.
The green jacket and the career grand slam will have to wait another year at least.