My buddy Nate needed updates throughout the day because he had to head back to Eau Claire before the Masters ended. I couldn't even tell you how hard it was to text Nate about Rory's performance on the 10th hole and the following holes. The only real description I could think of would be to tell him it looked like one of us playing Augusta spraying the ball left and right. McIlroy started to make the tumble like Dustin Johnson and Nick Watney, two other young golfers did in other majors last year.
When a golfer starts collapsing, it is one of the toughest things to watch in sports. It's different to see a team self-combust, but nothing is worst than seeing an individual collapse like McIlroy did on Sunday. Everyone at our house yelled at CBS for showing McIlroy because none of us wanted to see the aftermath of his meltdown. The biggest dagger might not have been the 10th hole, but the 12th tee shot where he sprays in right into the smallest tributary. I believe people expected Rory to succumb to the pressure, but no one expected him to finish tied for 15th place. All of us felt for Rory last night.
McIlroy handled himself with class last night after playing likely the worst round of his life as a professional. I hope he bounces back nicely in the next couple of months, but I doubt it will happen. Something like this will stick with him for awhile, probably until he nets his next win. Hopefully, it comes sooner than later because I would hate to see a golfer with McIlroy's talent go to waste.
-Charlie.
