Rory’s €1m mission accomplished

World number six Rory McIlroy produced some dazzling golf on the back nine to overcome a sniffling Tiger Woods by one shot in their lucrative ‘Match at Mission Hills’ in China yesterday.

The double Major-winning Irishman shot a six-under-par 67 to beat the world number one’s 68 in the exhibition match which, according to reports, earned both men in excess of £1m (€1.17m).

McIlroy has endured a disappointing winless year but his game looked to be heading in the right direction for the final weeks of the European Tour season with a second victory over Woods following his one-shot success in the ‘Duel at Jinsha Lake’ last year.