He is the golfer who was asked by Augusta National not to play again in The Masters after withdrawing following a double bogey on his first hole

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Golf fans would have been forgiven for fearing the worst when Rory McIlroy began the final round of this year’s Masters with a double bogey to throw away his two shot lead by the time he got to the second tee.

Things would get worse for Rory McIlroy shortly after. A birdie for Bryson DeChambeau on the second hole saw the American move into the lead at Augusta National.

Of course, McIlroy was able to recover and win The Masters title for the first time in his career. But there is one player who did not recover from a double bogey on the first hole on the iconic course.

In fact, for one person in particular, it would prove to be the final hole of their Masters career – 49 years after their debut at the event.

The player asked not to play again in The Masters after withdrawing following a double bogey

Doug Ford was the last player to win The Masters before Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus dominated the tournament. The trio won eight of the next nine Masters titles after Ford’s victory in 1957.

Remarkably, Nicklaus would finish tied for sixth at the first major of the year as recently as 1998. But not everyone can have the longevity of the Golden Bear.

Ford, for example, last made the cut at The Masters in 1971. Following that event, he would withdraw on 10 occasions and miss the cut in every other year. And by 2001, it seemingly became too much for Augusta National.

Of course, one of the traditions of The Masters involves past champions receiving lifetime invitations to the event. Bernhard Langer made his final appearance at Augusta National earlier this year.

But it seems that Augusta is prepared to take action if it feels that it is required. And after Ford made a double bogey on the opening hole and immediately withdrew from the 2001 Masters, he was asked by the club to not play in the event again.

The career of 1957 Masters champion Doug Ford

It was a sad end to Ford’s Masters career.

Ford also won the PGA Championship in 1955, while he also represented USA in four Ryder Cups. He also ended his career with 19 wins on the PGA Tour.

He was inducted into World Golf Hall of Fame in 2011 – 10 years after his final Masters appearance – before passing away in 2018 at the age of 95.