Rory McIlroy is one of NI's greatest ever sporting ambassadors

By the end of the competition last night, at the Augusta National, McIlroy had fallen far down the pack and was nowhere near contention as Spieth too stumbled and a British player, Daniel Willett, late last night seemed about to become the first English Masters winner in 20 years.

It was a big disappointment to McIlroy’s legion of fans back home in Northern Ireland. But we know the Holywood man will be back to the top of the game at some point soon enough.

Five years ago, at the very same venue in Georgia, McIlroy appeared set to coast to the green jacket (that champions wear) when he began the final day with a four shot lead over all the other competitors, including some of the biggest names in golf. Then he collapsed in such a spectacular fashion, shooting eight over par, that it raised question marks over his psychological ability to operate at the highest level.

McIlroy put those doubts firmly to rest in the subsequent years, and in 2014 became one of only four players in the history of golf to have won four majors by the age of 25.

His form has, at times over the last five years, been up and down like a roller coaster but he is still only aged 26. The remarkable success this year at the age of 58 of Bernhard Langer, a two-times Masters winner who at points this weekend seemed set for a top five finish, suggests that with discipline and good fortune, McIlroy could have another three decades at the top of the game (if he has any desire to play for so long).

The world number three remains an inspiration to young people, and an illustration of the prizes that can accrue to a talented person who is willing to apply exceptional effort.

With Northern Ireland’s world class golf courses and blossoming tourism industry, he is also one of the most important sporting ambassadors the Province has ever had.