McIlroy and Westwood go head-to-head

Lee Westwood will play with Rory McIlroy in Shanghai tomorrow less than a week after describing the 22-year-old’s move to a different management company as a “bizarre decision”.

World number three McIlroy and world number two Westwood have been drawn together for the opening round of the Lake Malaren Shanghai Masters, a 30-man event offering a record first prize of €1.4m.

The pair were stablemates until US Open champion McIlroy told manager Andrew ’Chubby’ Chandler that he was moving away and joining Ryder Cup partner Graeme McDowell at Dublin-based Horizon.

The Northern Irishman then flew to Istanbul to spend time with Danish girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki, the women’s world number one tennis player, but now resumes his career with interest surrounding what was behind his shock switch.

Among those also playing this week are Padraig Harrington, Colin Montgomerie, Ian Poulter and Paul Casey.