Tiger Woods beat Rory McIlroy by six strokes Thursday to advance to

Tiger Woods beat Rory McIlroy by six strokes Thursday to advance to the semifinals of the World Golf Final, turning the first head-to-head match between the world’s top two players into a one-sided contest.

McIlroy, No. 1 in the world, was eliminated from the $5.2 million exhibition after slumping to a third consecutive group match defeat on a day of low scoring at the Antalya Golf Club.

Woods shot 7-under 64 for a second straight victory and will face Justin Rose of England in the semifinals later Thursday.

“It felt good and I really hit it good out there,” said Woods, who won just a half-point from four matches in the U.S. team’s loss to Europe in the Ryder Cup last month. “My game is starting to turn around a bit and I am beginning to hit it like I did at the start of the year.”

Rose shot a course-record 62 to beat U.S. Open champion Webb Simpson by five strokes and also stay perfect in the event, which has a first prize of $1.5 million.

McIlroy will leave Turkey with a check for $300,000 but still has to return on Friday for a pro-am involving all eight competitors after the final.

Source AP