• The Masters

Devastated McIlroy admits 'I lost it'

Rory McIlroy crashed into a Masters meltdown in front of a global audience on Sunday, and after Charl Schwartzel claimed the Green Jacket the 21-year-old admitted: "I just unravelled".

McIlroy began the final round with a four-stroke advantage, chasing his first major title. However, by the time he was burying his head in his arms after a wild drive at 13, the youngster confessed, "I realized I didn't have a chance".

The Northern Irishman maintained a lead - albeit by a single stroke - going into the back nine, but then he imploded on the 10th, signing for a triple-bogey seven. From there the calm that he had shown all week disappeared as he limped from one disaster to the next, eventually carding an eight-over 80.

"I thought I hung in pretty well the front nine, I led going into the back nine but hit a poor tee shot on 10 and it unravelled from there," confessed a clearly devastated McIlroy. "I lost it at 10, 11, 12 and could not get it back. It is just one of those things.

"I am very disappointed at the minute and will be for the next few days, but I am sure I will get over it. I have got to take the positives and the positives were I led the tournament for 63 holes. I will have plenty more chances, I know that."

Having started the day as leader, McIlroy was the final player to finish, and he got a warm reception at the 18th despite his collapse.

"I don't know if people were feeling sorry for me or what," McIlroy said. "I sort of lost my speed on the greens, I lost my line… I lost everything.

"It will be pretty tough for me for the next few days, but I will get over it. I will be fine. There are a lot worse things that can happen in your life. Shooting a bad score in the last round of a golf tournament is nothing in comparison to what other people go through."

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