THE MASTERS 2011-The Roars Fade for Rory McIlroy on Sunday in Augusta

 Alone at the Top 
By Cody Phillips

Andrew Redington/Getty Images

As I listened to Rory McIlroy calmly answer questions during his post round press conference following the third round of the 2011 Masters Tournament, I felt myself slowly turning into a believer.  I knew all to well what Sunday at The Masters holds for its overnight leader, yet I was inching my way towards believing that young McIlroy could close this tournament out. In my defense, all the 21 year old phenom from Northern Ireland had done up to that point was fire a dazzling first round 65 (Elvin Bethea), an ultra efficient second round 69 (Tim Krumrie), and a solid third round 70 (Sam Huff) to hold a 4 shot lead heading into the final round Sunday.  For three straight days, drive after drive, iron after iron, and putt after putt were struck as purely and true as a player can.  This curly haired lad was as calm and cool as any 54 hole leader I'd seen in my twenty years of watching the event.  He had all the right answers, both on the course and off.  He repeated over and over to anyone that would listen, "How he just felt really comfortable.  Comfortable with his game, his preparation coming in, with leading the golf tournament, etc."  Not even the Golf Gods swirling atop the tall pine's of this sacred Alister Mackenzie design could muster any defense against McIlroy. For three rounds, he had successfully eluded nearly all the hatred that Augusta National had to offer, squandering only three shots on an otherwise clean scorecard.  He'd made a lone bogey on the always difficult #12 (Tom Brady) on Friday and bogey's on #5 (Joe DiMaggio) and #10 (Pele) during his round on Saturday.  For McIlroy to have only 3 bogey's in 54 holes of a Major Championship was utterly mind blowing to me.  Simply put, he was playing solid, championship golf.  The kids got game...that is unquestioned.  

      Then came Sunday at Augusta, where a golfer is turned into "hero" or "goat" quicker than anywhere else in the golfing world.  McIlroy started with a booming drive that split the center of the #1 (Warren Moon) fairway.  I've always felt you can tell an immense amount about one's nerve's on the first tee box and he'd answered that question with a 300 yard rocket center cut.  The kid looked at ease. With a relative short approach shot left to an inviting hole location, Rory inexplicably flew the green with a 7 iron into a terrible spot back left of the green.  He couldn't get up and down to save his par and Augusta had exacted its first bite out of the 54 hole leader.  Another bogey on #5 and the Golf Gods were smelling blood.  Still clinging to a one shot lead, the wheels officially flew off the wagon at #10.  He pulled his drive left and after an unfortunate ricochet off the trees, ended up some 75 yards left of the fairway in between two cottages.  The rest of the hole was a nightmare, ultimately finishing with a triple bogey 7 (John Elway).  He was never the same after that hole, making 2 more bogey's and a double en route to a back nine 43 and a total round of 80 (Jerry Rice).

      It was truly hard to watch.  Like a car wreck happening right in front of your eyes.  I know many in America love to watch people fail, but I am not one of them.  I turned to my wife and said, "I honestly think I would be crying on the course if I were him."  Golf is a fickle and lonely game.  Unlike team sports, Rory had nowhere to hide.  He had no teammates to take the pressure off for him, no substitute to come off the bench or sidelines and give him a much needed breather...on golfs grandest stage, he simply had to gut it out in front of the Augusta National patrons and the millions of us watching on television.  I felt for him.  I still do.  In the wake of the tournament, in the light of major disappointment, McIlroy stood tall, gritted his teeth, and spoke with an unwavering consistency in his post round remarks.  He truly showed why golf is a gentlemen's  game.  Mere seconds after walking off of the 18th green, he said, "...Hopefully the next time I'm in this position I'll be able to handle it better.  I didn't handle it particularly well obviously, but it was a character-building day, put it that way. I'll come out stronger for it." I just couldn't help but wonder if I'd have spoken with the same grace in that situation?  

      Although McIlroy walked away from Augusta National Golf Club without the Green Jacket, he walked away a winner in my eyes.  Unlike many others, I felt proud of McIlroy.  Proud that he'd lead the tournament for so long as a 21 year old kid, proud that he'd worn his emotions on his sleeve during that final round, proud that he fought until the end, and most of all proud that he acted and spoke so eloquently following heart wrenching defeat.  A lesson can be learned sitting alone at the top.  

Didn't He Choke? 

By Eric Brookes                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

      As the 2011 Masters began, I was not much of a Rory McIlroy fan. However, I felt like crying for him as I watched him walk off of the 18th green in Augusta. The look on his face when Angel Cabrera and the two caddies were consoling him was heartbreaking. I will say that he handled it like a professional and I see why he has had so much success at the age of 21 (Bobby Clemente). In saying all of that...Would someone please come out and just say it, "HE CHOKED!"  Maybe I have missed it or haven't been paying enough attention, but has he been given a free pass from the media? I have been hearing people on TV say that it wasn't his day, or that he simply had a couple of bad breaks. No, what he had was the 2nd worst final round in Augusta history. Yes, I said in the history of the Masters. Had this been Tiger or Phil, it would go down as the biggest choke in golf history. I guess the media is leaving him alone because he is such an excellent young man, and I am not arguing that at all. But think of Phil Mickelson at Wingfoot in 2006 or Greg Norman in Augusta in 1996. We still to this day have to hear about those infamous disasters every time any Major Tournament is played. Look, I know Rory was on the biggest stage in golf at 21 years of age, who can blame him for falling apart. Not many 21 year olds can handle that type of pressure.

      My point is...if Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson had melted down in that fashion, it would be on the cover of every magazine, every website, and would still be the top story on SportsCenter, CNN, Fox News, Oprah, etc.  Rory is a great player and will win his share of Green Jackets and I truly hope he does. After watching how he carried himself as he crumbled on the final day, I have become a fan.           

      I guess I am just looking for the reason that the media has let this slide...let Mr. McIlroy get off with a free pass?  Is it because he is only 21, because he's so likable, because he's not from America? I don't know the answer.  But the overall reaction or should I say coddling has surprised me!     

WHAT DO YOU ALL THINK?

LEAVE US A COMMENT BELOW!