Greg Norman relives pain of Augusta collapse

Greg Norman said he knows what Rory McIlroy must have gone through as his Masters dream was crushed with a closing 80 at Augusta.

"I knew exactly how he felt - I've experienced it," the Australian told the PGA Tour website.

In 1996 Norman led by six, shot 78 and lost by five to Nick Faldo. McIlroy went from four in front to 10 behind, suffering a terrible back nine that included a triple bogey seven at the 10th, a bogey at 11, a double bogey at the 12th and another dropped shot on 15. "What is it with golf destiny?" added Norman. "Isn't it strange? It taps you on the back of your head and it either pushes you ahead or pushes you back."

Meanwhile, Lee Westwood is on the search for a longer belly putter after a week at The Masters that "makes me feel like pulling my hair out".

The world No 2 and last year's runner-up switched clubs for the final round and said after finishing 11th: "I felt a little bit more comfortable, so I think I'll carry on with the belly putter.

Inevitably, Westwood was also asked about stablemate McIlroy's crash, especially his triple-bogey. And he hinted that, despite his outwardly calm appearance, the young Northern Irishman is susceptible to tension. "I've played with Rory a lot. When he gets under a bit of pressure he does have a pull hook in his bag," he said.

England's Luke Donald, back to world No 3 after his fourth place in The Masters, also spared a thought for Ryder Cup team-mate McIlroy.

"It's tough," said Donald of McIlroy's heartbreaking collapse. "But he's young and he's got a great future ahead of him.

"He's just got to take the learning experience from this and try to get better.

"It's never easy to lead from the front and when I saw he made triple on ten and backed it up with a couple more tough holes my heart went out to him."