Rory McIlroy misses the cut at the Masters to complete perhaps most horrendous month of his career

On US television, spiky former American Solheim Cup star Dottie Pepper summed up the predicament of Rory McIlroy perfectly.

‘He looks to me like a golfer who’s searching for the lost soul of his swing,’ she said.

The Masters, where the leading 50 players and ties continue to the final two rounds, is the easiest halfway cut to make because of the limited field – there were just 86 players this year – and the fact there’s always a corps of former champions who comprise the backmarkers.

Rory McIlroy missed the cut at the Masters in perhaps the worst month of his career

Poor McIlroy still didn’t come close to making it, completing perhaps the most horrendous month in his illustrious career.

Under the tutelage of new coach Pete Cowen, the troubled Northern Irishman now has a month to rediscover the essence of his swing before the circus descends on Kiawah Island, and the USPGA Championship.

Nine years ago, McIlroy turned up there during the London Olympics and won the tournament by seven strokes. He looked like a man destined to win ten majors.

McIlroy has a month to rediscover the essence of his swing before the USPGA Championship

‘Right now, we’re just seeing an entirely different version,’ said US commentator, Frank Nobilo.

That much was evident on the par four 10th, the hole where McIlroy hooked his drive into uncharted territory on his way to falling apart in the final round ten years ago. 

This time he miscued his approach into a bush and lost his ball. He signed for a sad 74, to sit alongside his first round 76.

Defending champion Dustin Johnson didn’t progress after making a mess of the final four holes

Lee Westwood (left) and Brooks Koepka (right) will also not be involved at the weekend

Two more big names who will not be around at the weekend are Brooks Koepka and Lee Westwood, but given the former was playing on one leg and the other is almost 48, there were mitigating circumstances.

They were joined at the death by defending champion Dustin Johnson, who made a mess of the final four holes.

Here again, though, he’s got the green jacket to console him. He’s still world number one.