"The Holywood star’s manager Chubby Chandler confessed after the Masters disaster that McIlroy had a problem, but then said he didn’t know what it was. Odd."

It was fascinating to see how many people who aren't Tweeters emailing around the image that Rory McIlroy posted on his Twitter account featuring himself with Charl Schwartzel headed to Malaysia. Not only did it remind people what a graceful and even courageous young man he is in defeat, but only added to his following as Jay Busbee noted.

There was, however, some tough love Tuesday for Rory's management team from one of the writers who follows his play most closely. In a well reasoned post about McIlroy's need to improve his putting, Irish Golf Desk's Brian Keogh also takes manager Chubby Chandler to task for suggesting that Rory will need to play more to gain experience under pressure even as Chandler has advocated Rory play less.

“I don’t know what the problem is,” Chandler said as he dashed off to keep up with newly crowned Masters champion Charl Schwartzel, the latest client in his ISM stable to win a major. “I don’t know.”

What Chandler does know is that McIlroy is still a young man with lots to learn. But how much has been done to improve his short putting? The youngster has built several greens at his home practice facility near Belfast and worked with biomechanics expert Dr Paul Hurrion.

Chandler said: “The problem with Rory is that he doesn’t play a lot so you don’t get that much practice at winning. And that’s the balance now.

“How many times you should play to do that and yet stay fresh and focussed?  Because he came in here great, didn’t he. He was fresh every day. But you have got to learn to do certain things on the golf course.”

Putting part, McIlroy made several strategic mistakes in the final round and paid the price for a pull-hook under pressure, taking seven at the 10th to kiss the green jacket goodbye.

He is green as a professional but it was his form on the greens that really let him down on Sunday afternoon.

Playing for a reputed $300,000 appearance fee in this week’s Malaysian Open will not help McIlroy much when he defends his title at the Quail Hollow Championship in Charlotte next month.