Rory McIlroy set to miss Masters cut as agonising pursuit of Grand Slam continues

For many, it felt like the stars had finally aligned this week for Rory McIlroy to land an elusive Masters title and elevate his legacy amongst exclusive company as one of just six players to complete the Grand Slam.

Arriving at Augusta National this week, McIlroy's form and belief were in the right place, while his final-round 64 to finish runner-up last year should have provided a foundation upon which the Northern Irishman could launch an assault on the Green Jacket.

McIlroy could even be bolstered by his triumph at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic in January, a place he called a "happy hunting ground" for Masters champions, with both Danny Willett and Sergio Garcia previously winning both tournaments in the same year.

Instead, on a day when one of the most prominent players in the LIV Golf series led the field by three shots, world No 2 McIlroy faced an early exit.

McIlroy shot a five over-par 77 with seven bogeys, 17 strokes behind pace-setter Brooks Koepka, and is facing his second missed Masters cut in three years.

Play was stopped due to stormy weather before the second round was completed but at five-over for the tournament, in joint 61st position, the Northern Irishman is well adrift of the projected cut to the low 50 and level, set at two-over.

The 33-year-old has won four majors but it is now nine years since the last of those triumphs in the PGA Championship at Valhalla.

McIlroy has been the unofficial player's spokesman for the PGA Tour in its battle with the Saudi-backed LIV and took a prominent role in recent meetings that led to changes to the PGA Tour, with the introduction of 'enhanced events' boasting smaller fields and bigger purses.

After missing the cut at the Players Championship last month,