The moment Rory McIlroy's daughter Poppy, 4, sinks epic putt at Augusta before Masters

So, can McIlroy handle the lightning pace of the greens at this week? Judging by what transpired at Augusta National on Wednesday, the answer is already an emphatic yes.

However, we're not talking about , who today will tee off targeting a first green jacket and the career grand slam of major championships he craves. Instead, his daughter Poppy stole the show during the par three tournament, which annually serves as the curtain raiser to the famous major. The four-year-old accompanied her father on his round as he played with Shane Lowry.

Neither player forced their way into contention as Colombia's Nicolas Echavarria and American JJ Spaun, last month, finished top on five under par. For Spaun, there would be more sudden death woes as Echavarria took the honours.

But the talk afterwards was all about Poppy. Her father handed her a putter on the 9th hole, but there seemed little chance of a miracle with the toddler being left with a snaking long-range downhill putt.

She barely tapped her effort as the ball appeared to struggle to gather pace on the slope. However, the world's most famous greens then worked their magic, with the ball picking up pace and breaking from right to left before nestling in the hole.

As the patrons erupted, Lowry's own daughter, Iris, ran on the green to embrace her new friend. Lowry himself jumped about in celebration while McIlroy hugged and high-fived his little girl.

It wasn't the only memorable moment between a father and child yesterday. Jordan Spieth had a slightly different situation to manage, telling his daughter Sophie not to try and eat the grass on the way around. Max Homa, meanwhile, had his two-year-old son dressed in an all-white caddy outfit.

McIlroy certainly wouldn't have been perturbed about not winning the event, given the infamous curse attached to past winners. In 88 Masters tournaments, no player has gone on to win the event in the same year as prevailing in the par three contest.