Rory McIlroy gathered a crowd and momentum, but not a medal

They say it's the hope that kills you. The boom-bust circle of life that is a crescendo of anticipation and dashed aspirations on the biggest stages have become a facet of Rory McIlroy's major drought over the last decade.

This though on a sunny, but just about tolerably warm Sunday, south-west of Paris, was about a career ambition that had only come into view since golf returned to the hinterland of the Olympic programme for Rio 2016.

That was a Games that McIlroy chose to sit out, but by the time he got a taste of it in Tokyo three years ago, the four-time major winner seemed to have become taken with the whole enterprise.

On that occasion, a play-off would deny him bronze but the whole experience had energised him for another go.

As he said at the time, "You're a part of something much bigger and I'm really looking forward to Paris in three years' time."

He had caught the bug but what he wouldn't be able to shake off across the final round this Sunday would be the type of so-near-yet-so-far outcomes that have typified his performances when it comes to the crunch.

All roads led to the Le Golf National for this writer, at a course located just south-west of Versailles which is hosting the equestrian events and about an hour outside Paris.

Well, all roads would be pushing it given the number of roadblocks in place due to the hosting of the Olympics.

But eventually, one got there just as McIlroy was teeing off and with the world number three starting from 10 under, the Irish interest lay with him given that Shane Lowry, who'd shown such infectious joy and patriotism when announced as an Opening Ceremony flagbearer, was out of contention and had already deemed the remainder of his tournament to be an exercise in "playing for