McIlroy to end Irish rookie hoodoo

Rory McIlroy is bidding to end Ireland's rookie hoodoo at the Masters

No Irish debutant has even broken par in his first competitive round at Augusta National.

The best were Ronan Rafferty in 1990 and Paul McGinley in 2002, who opened with level par 72s.

McIlroy will be the 12th Irishman to tee it up in the Masters since Joe Carr paved the way in 1967.

Carr finished 55th but McIlroy will have to play brilliantly to equal the best start by an Irish debutant - a share of eighth place by Darren Clarke in 1998.

Irishmen at the Masters

Joe Carr

1967 55th J. Carr 76 74 79 84 313 +25

1968 Carr T52 (last) 75 73 80 78 306 (+18)

1969 MC 79 76 155 (7 shots)

Christy O’Connor Jnr

1977 MC 78 79 157 (8 shots)

Garth McGimpsey

1986 MC  78 78 156 (7 shots)

1987 MC 79 77 156 (5 shots)

Ronan Rafferty

1990 T14 72 74 69 73 288 (E)

1991 MC 73 76 149 (3 shots)

David Feherty 

1992 T-52 73 72 77 70 292

Darren Clarke

1998 T8 76 73 67 69 285 -3

1999 MC (5 shots) 75 78  153

2000 T40 72 71 78 74 295 +7

2001 24th 72 67 72 73 284 -4

2002 T20 70 74 73 72 289 +1

2003 T28 66 76 78 74 294 +6

2004 MC (1 stroke) 70 79 149 

2005 T17 72 76 69 71 288 EVEN

2006 T22 72 70 72 77 291 +3

Padraig Harrington

2000 T19 76 69 75 71 291 +3

2001 T27 75 69 72 71 287 -1

2002 T5 69 70 72 71 282 -6

2003 MC (1 shot) 77 73 150 +6

2004 T13 74 74 68 72 288 E

2005 MC (1 stroke) 72 77  149 +5

2006 T27 73 70 75 74 292 +4

2007 T7 77 68 75 73 293 +5

2008 T5 74 71 69 72 286 -2

Paul McGinley

2002 T18 72 74 71 71 288 EVEN

2006 MC 78 77  155

Michael Hoey (am)

2002 MC (1 stroke) 75 73  148 +4

Graeme McDowell

2005 MC (1 stroke) 79 70 149 +5

Brian McElhinney (am)

2006 MC 80 75  155 +11