[Golf Topic] Woods "Defeats McIlroy at Mini Ryder Cup"

Tiger Woods (left) and Justin Thomas are smiling brightly while holding the trophy after winning the Payne's Valley Cup. Ridgedale, Missouri, USA = Getty Images / Multibits Photo by Multibits

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] ○…The 'resurrected golf emperor' Tiger Woods (USA) defeated world No. 4 Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland).

On the 23rd (Korean time), at the Payne's Valley Golf Course in Ridgedale, Missouri, USA, Woods teamed up with Justin Thomas (USA) to win against McIlroy and Justin Rose (England) in a playoff at the charity event Payne's Valley Cup. McIlroy and Rose won the first 6 holes of four-ball (where two players each play their own ball and the better score counts), while Woods and Thomas won the next 6 holes of foursomes (where two players alternate shots playing one ball).

The final 6 holes were played as singles matches but ended without a winner. The playoff took place on the 19th hole, a par 3 (123 yards), in a 'near pin' contest, where Thomas's ball was closest to the hole at 2.7 meters, deciding the match. The tournament honors Payne Stewart (USA), who tragically died in a plane crash at age 42 in 1999. The battleground is the first public course designed by Woods. The proceeds were donated to the Payne Stewart Family Foundation.