Tiger Woods saw the lighter side of things after going down to Rory McIlroy in their "Match at Mission Hills" on Monday.
Rory McIlroy: Master of the 'Duels'.
World number six McIlroy has struggled for form this year and he is yet to win a tournament in 2013, but all that was forgotten at the lucrative event in China as he edged out the American.
Two-time major winner McIlroy carded a six-under-par 67 compared to the world number one's 68, helping him to beat Woods for a second time as he also won the "Duel at Jinsha Lake" last year.
Both men though had plenty to smile about after the event as they reportedly each pocketed more than $1.5 million.
"He schooled me twice," Woods said afterwards, but McIlroy didn't get carried away after his double victory.
"Well, I don't know about that, I beat you by one shot twice," the Ulsterman replied.
McIlroy started well at the Blackstone Course on Hainan Island, which had been shortened for the duel, as he made birdies on the first two holes before a double-bogey on the par-three five saw him drop back to level par.
Woods, meanwhile, pulled his opening tee to drop two shots and then birdied the third, fourth and ninth to reach the turn at one-under, one ahead of his 24-year-old opponent.
The action heated up on the back nine as both players eagled the par-5 12th with McIlroy coming close to an albatross. They picked up further birdies at the 13th and a five-foot putt at the 14th drew the world number six level.
After birdies at the 16th, Woods dropped a shot back at the 17th after he misjudged his approach shot and that ultimately cost him the win.
"I enjoyed it. We didn't play probably our best on the front nine but on the back nine we got it going," Woods said.
golf365.com