Woods, McIlroy play together after Match Play losses

• By Randall Mell
• Feb 26, 2013 2:20 PM ET

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – After getting bounced from the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in the first round, the world’s No. 1 and No. 2 players decided to have their own private match.

Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy squared off Sunday at the Medalist Golf Club in Hobe Sound, Fla.

“We thought we would play our own match play final, except it was over 36 holes,” McIlroy said Tuesday at The Honda Classic, where he is defending champion. “We had two matches. He beat me the first time, and I beat him in the second, so we're even.”

McIlroy won The Honda Classic last year holding off a hard-charging Tiger Woods in the final round. Nine behind McIlroy at day's start, Woods closed with a 62 to get within a shot of McIlroy at one point. Woods ended up tied for second, two shots back.

McIlroy and Woods are both South Florida residents now. McIlroy plays most of his golf out of the Bear’s Club in Jupiter, Woods out of Medalist. Former NFL receiver Ahmad Rashad joined them in Sunday's rounds.

“It’s the first I’ve actually been up at Medalist,” McIlroy said.

They played 36 holes in less than five hours.

“We teed off at 8, and I was home by 1:30,” McIlroy said. “We played quickly. He putts with the pin in . . . He doesn’t, it’s just speed golf. It was really enjoyable.”

McIlroy didn’t divulge the scores.

“I made a seven or eight in the first match,” McIlroy said. “I made a few birdies on him in the second match.”