Rory McIlroy was knocked out of contention on a rain-lashed day at the World Golf Final yesterday and can only hope to restore pride when he tackles Tiger Woods in today's third round.

The pair were due to meet yesterday, but the encounter was pushed back a day after a fierce electrical storm began lashing the Atalya Golf Club in Belek, Turkey, forcing afternoon play to be abandoned.

In any case, McIlroy cannot progress to the semifinals of the US$7-million event after losing his second match to former Masters champion Charl Schwartzel. McIlroy's level-par round of 71 left him a stroke behind the South African, the Northern Irishman having already left organizers red-faced after losing his first-round encounter to American Matt Kuchar.

In a near duplication of the final round of the 2011 Masters, Schwartzel birdied three of his closing four holes to come from behind to beat McIlroy before the rain came down yesterday.

"I played a bit better than yesterday (Tuesday) but then Charl birdied three of the last four holes and you can't really do much about that," said McIlroy, who is assured of a US$300,000 prize check even if he loses to Woods, while a win would see him presented with US$450,000.

"So in my match now against Tiger, I will be out to get back a bit of pride and at least leave here winning one match.

"It will be exciting to play against him as he still has the chance to go through, so he will be looking to win his match.

"I now 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.

Woods, meanwhile, shot a 4-under-par 67 to defeat Ryder Cup colleague and world No. 15 Kuchar by five strokes.

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