BELEK, Turkey: World No. 1 Rory McIlroy’s World Golf Final showdown with 14-times major winner Tiger Woods was put on hold after play was abandoned due to storms yesterday.
McIlroy, without a win from two matches in the inaugural event after his latest defeat at the hands of 2011 US Masters champion and group pacesetter Charl Schwartzel, is bottom of his pool with Woods and Matt Kuchar on one win apiece.
Woods carded a four-under 67 to beat compatriot Kuchar by five shots before the afternoon matches were put back to Thursday when a fierce electrical storm began lashing the course.
McIlroy, who lost to South African Schwartzel by one shot, said he was determined to put on a better show against Woods after his level-par round.
“I don’t have much to play for so I would like to beat him so he doesn’t go through to the semifinals and also get some bragging rights,” McIlroy, unaware he could make the semifinals, told reporters.
If players finish level on points qualification is decided by aggregate totals over the three rounds, with McIlroy currently on five-over-par compared to Woods at five-under and Kuchar on even par.
“Bragging rights from this week will help a little bit,” added the US PGA Champion, who is looking forward to a rivalry with Woods next year.
“Of course, there is always an added edge when you play against a player like Tiger and there were a few chances this year when we could have gone head-to-head in the bigger tournaments but it didn’t quite happen.
“So I am still looking forward to next season when we can go head-to-head down the stretch.”
In Group Two, England’s Justin Rose (66) beat Ryder Cup team mate Lee Westwood (69) while US Open champion Webb Simpson carded the best score so far with a six-under 65 which earned him a win over compatriot Hunter Mahan (67).
Rose tops the standings with two points and will play Simpson (one point) on Thursday. Westwood, also on one point, next faces last-placed Mahan.
McIlroy-Woods clash on hold as storms end day’s play
McIlroy-Woods clash on hold as storms end day’s play
Rybakina has little hope of change to tennis schedule
- Former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina said Friday she agreed with Aryna Sabalenka’s description of the tennis schedule as “insane” — but does not see it changing
BRISBANE: Former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina said Friday she agreed with Aryna Sabalenka’s description of the tennis schedule as “insane” — but does not see it changing.
Speaking after her surprise loss to Karolina Muchova in the Brisbane International, world number five Rybakina said Sabalenka’s criticism of the packed WTA Tour calendar was correct.
WTA rules stipulate that top players must play all four Grand Slams, 10 WTA 1000 events and six WTA 500 tournaments, unless they have a valid reason such as injury.
Players who don’t meet these requirements risk being fined.
Sabalenka said Thursday that she was prepared to be punished by the WTA in order to rest her body and not risk injury.
“The season is definitely insane,” four-time Grand Slam champion Sabalenka said.
Rybakina, who beat Sabalenka to win last year’s season-ending WTA Finals, said players should be able to choose their schedules more freely.
“We all want to have more freedom of choosing what to play, what not to play,” said the Moscow-born Kazakh, the 2022 Wimbledon winner.
“You’re kind of forced to play most of the tournaments, so it is not ideal.
“You don’t need to force anyone to play so many tournaments since it’s so tough on the body.
“It’s not easy to show the same good results, be healthy all the time.
“But it’s a topic which we have had for a long time, and I don’t see much changing.”
The WTA told AFP in October that “athlete welfare is always a top priority.”
