RORY BEATS TIGER BY A SHOT IN CHINA EXHIBITION MATCH

FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE
By JAMES CORRIGAN
Rory McIlroy outscored Tiger Woods for only the third time in 11 head-to-head clashes in China, winning their "Duel at Jinsha Lake" with a five-under-par 67 to the American's 68 today. 

The world's top two golfers met for a one-off match after competing in Shanghai and Kuala Lumpur.
The pair earned a reported $3 million (£1.87 million) between them for roughly 3hr 15min "work"- the highest-paid head-to-head in the history of the game.

McIlroy was runner-up to Ryder Cup team-mate Peter Hanson at the BMW Masters and Woods fourth behind compatriot Nick Watney in the CIMB Classic.

Three weeks after Woods defeated the 23-year-old by six strokes during the World Golf Finals in Turkey, it was McIlroy who always held the edge this time.

He had two early birdies and turned two in front before Woods chipped in at the short 12th, but the 14-major champion bogeyed two holes later and could not get back on terms.

"It was a pretty exciting day and the match was pretty close all day," McIlroy said. "I got off to a good start and had a little bit of advantage for the first few holes but then Tiger birdied a few on the back nine. All I was trying to do was to keep myself ahead and I managed to do that."

Despite his defeat, Woods hinted he would welcome further opportunities to go head-to-head against McIlroy in similar end-of-season exhibition matches.
"This certainly was not my usual way I spend Mondays but to have this many people come out and watch us play golf... was something special," Woods said.
"These events don't happen that often and it was just great to see everyone so excited to see us come here and excited to watch us play," the 14-time major champion added.
"So as far as doing something like this down the road, it would be fun.
"We're ranked one and two in the world respectively and to have matches like this to promote the game of golf is what it's all about."
Neither player is staying on in the country for this week's WGC-HSBC Champions at Mission Hills.
McIlroy, flying to Bulgaria to watch tennis girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki, next plays at the Singapore Open next week, while Woods has one event left in 2012 – the World Challenge in California at the end of next month.