Rory McIlroyHe had now seen his chances of winning a tournament he had led for 63 holes go up in smoke. His woeful putting at 10, 11 and 12 left his nerves shot to pieces and he had just driven off 13 and into the woods. His mind was all over the place and in truth, it was very difficult to watch.
Perhaps somewhat fortunately, as he tumbled down the leaderboard on his way to a tied 15th place finish, it meant the television broadcasters switched to other golfers to follow, therefore saving him from even more humiliation.
Questions immediately began to surface about how he would react. After all, he is still only 21 and could be forgiven for simply bursting into tears and walking off the course.
However, what he did do was something that deserves huge admiration.
As he approached the final green he was treated to a standing ovation from the galleries. He responded with a smile and took off his cap as a mark of acknowledgement. It would have been easy to remained downbeat and disconsolate after the public ordeal to which he had just been exposed.
Even after he missed another short putt and eventually got down in 80, as the galleries again came to their feet, he took the time show his appreciation for their sympathy.
It was all very impressive stuff.
Once he had finished the formalities in the recorder's hut, it is fair to assume he wanted to head straight to the airport and the first flight back to Northern Ireland.
But he did not do that. Instead, he took time to do a live television interview. He then did more media interviews, where his very public unraveling was put under the microscope.
It is this for which he deserves recognition.
Had, let's say, McIlroy been a professional footballer, there would have been no chance of him willing to speak about his red card and own goal. Press officers and agents would have intervened and he would have escaped out a back entrance, waiting for the world to forget his mistakes.
By taking questions and responding in such a positive way, he showed maturity beyond his years, his humility and started the healing process of what has surely been the most difficult time of his career.
He did not wallow in self pity and think about what could have happened. Instead, he left Augusta, with his head held high and with a lot of new friends who had been left impressed by the way he had played the previous three days.
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