When McIlroy had a last laugh

October 29, 2013. He awaited a moment like this one, when Rory McIlroy could finally beat an virus-hit Tiger Woods by one shot in a megabucks exhibition in China on Monday.

What was named as the ‘Match at Mission Hills’, at a sprawling golf complex on Hainan Island, the Northern Irish world number six shot six-under-par 66 to Woods’ 67 in the one-round face-off.

“I would like to play all my tournaments in China where I can beat Tiger,” said enthused 24-year-old.

“It’s been great to come back to this wonderful golf course where I still have such great memories from playing here two years ago in the World Cup.”

With all the trouble in last few months, McIlroy was not able to wake up to his original game and slipped in his rankings after losing in all tournaments this year. However, this win over, also beat Woods by one shot in a similar Chinese event last year.

[highlight]I would like to play all my tournaments in China where I can beat Tiger [/highlight]

Monday’s victory, at the same venue where he won the World Cup with Graeme McDowell in 2011, should give him a boost ahead of this week’s WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai.

Woods,  carried his daugter’s viral infection as he landed in China town after a 22-hour journey late on Sunday,  with his voice reduced to a whisper by the end of the round.

“I don’t sound all that well now but it was nice that it was warm out there today as that certainly helped, because I think my fever broke and I can start feeling a bit better,” woods whispered to the press.

“But I tell you what, when you have kids they bring home some strong bugs and this one has definitely been kicking my butt for the last couple of days.”

It was relieving outing for McIlroy, who finished tied second at the Kolon Korea Open last week.

“So I leave here and head back to Shanghai with my game good and there has been a lot of promising signs in practice and in my competitive play,” he said.

“I still have four tournaments left to the end of the season and still would love to finish 2013 strongly and get some momentum into next season.

Woods will head to Turkey for next week’s inaugural Turkish Airlines Open at Balek.