Golf: Lee Westwood and Justin Rose are guaranteed $1million (€774,353) each after making it an all-English final of the Turkish Airlines World Golf Final. Rory McIlroy had to settle for 'just' $300,000 (€232,306) after finishing last in the eight-man exhibition.
McIlroy lost all three of his group games in Antalya, including by six shots to Tiger Woods this morning, but was more than happy to spend the afternoon on the beach with girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki instead of contesting the semi-finals.
Those came down to clashes between Woods and Rose and Westwood and Charl Schwartzel, with Westwood following his morning 64 against Hunter Mahan with a stunning 61 — which included a double bogey — to beat the former Masters champion Schwartzel by six shots.
And Rose then turned around his match with Woods in spectacular fashion, recovering from two behind after 12 with a birdie on the 13th and an eagle on the 14th, where his approach pitched just inches from the hole and spun back into the cup.
Both players then birdied the par-five 16th and when Woods missed from 15ft for birdie on the last to force sudden death, Rose was certain of a seven-figure payday.
McIlroy at least had the consolation of taking away $300,000 (€232,306) for his efforts so it was perhaps not surprising that he was not overly disappointed with his early exit."Not really, I’ve got an afternoon by the pool, I don’t mind,” McIlroy said. “I knew I was going to have an afternoon off anyway so I was just going out and playing. I never really had any expectations.
"I've treated this week as it's great to come here, nice weather, play a bit of golf and I get to spend some time with Caroline (Wozniacki); I viewed it as a week like that. I didn't touch a club until the first day."
Asked about the form of Woods, McIlroy added: "I never say good shot as much as when I play with Tiger. "He is so solid from tee to green and he basically didn't hole much out there today and still shot seven under. I've said it all year, he's there, he's playing well and he is going to win tournaments and contend in majors."
Woods, who won just half a point from four matches in the Ryder Cup at Medinah, added: "It felt good. I really hit the ball well and missed quite a few putts out there so it could have been a really low number.
"I got off to a quick start and Rory hit it into the water on the first and got behind the eight ball a little. Once I got a big enough lead I thought just make one more birdie and a few pars and it would put a lot of pressure on Rory to come back at me."
