McIlroy achieves first 2013 success by beating 'ailing' Woods in 'lucrative' Chinese exhibition game

Northern Irish golfer Rory McIlroy has reportedly tasted success for the first time in this year by beating world number one Tiger Woods in a lucrative one-off exhibition in Hainan Island, China on Monday.

The world number six, who has dropped off the top of the rankings and has not won a tournament all year, shot six-under-par 66 to an ailing Woods' 67 in the one-round face-off, and he had also beat Woods by one shot in a similar Chinese event last year.

According to Sport24, the victory will give McIlroy a boost ahead of this week's WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai, with the former world number one saying that he would like to play all his tournaments in China where he can beat Woods.

McIlroy, who tied second at the Kolon Korea Open before fading from a promising position at last week's BMW Masters in Shanghai, further said that there has been a lot of promising signs in practice and in his competitive play, adding that he still would love to finish 2013 strongly and get some momentum into next season.

Woods, who touched down after a 22-hour journey late on Sunday, was reportedly battling a virus caught from his daughter, with his voice reduced to a whisper by the end of the round.