Rory McIlroy’s magical Masters finish offers reminder of his star quality

Rory McIlroy has been dejected enough times when exiting on to Washington Road via Magnolia Lane that he is entitled to savour a sense of harmony after leaving Augusta National this year.

If the latest staging of the Masters ultimately belonged to Scottie Scheffler, it was a tournament dominated by other themes. Fascination regarding Tiger Woods’s every move was clear by the depth of galleries and television ratings. And when those around the 18th green roared for McIlroy’s hole out from a bunker, it was the loudest celebration of day four. That Scheffler four-putted his final hole played a part in that scenario but we had already been served a reminder of the extent to which people want McIlroy to regain his major winning touch. McIlroy’s own display of emotion resonated; he had given himself a chance to win the Green Jacket as his bunker shot rolled in.

Augusta National offered evidence of just how spellbindingly good McIlroy in full flow is to watch. It should not serve as criticism of Scheffler – a man in the midst of extraordinary form – to point out he cannot move the needle to anything like the same degree as the Masters runner-up.

McIlroy’s 64 on Sunday was his lowest Masters round. It was a score which went way beyond core statistics. McIlroy, who speaks of building up a positive “memory bank” demonstrated he can tame Augusta. He challenged seriously for the first major of the year; cynics may bemoan the belated nature of that but McIlroy was ultimately the only real threat to Scheffler. Moreover, there is now validation to McIlroy’s recent work, including reacquainting with his old coach, Michael Bannon.

“It’s no good feeling like your game is in good shape, finishing 30th every week and saying you’re on the