Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy just got served in Turkey

Exhibition golf events are funny, especially when two of the biggest names in the sport are competing. While everyone is waiting to see if Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy will play in the final match of the Turkish Airlines World Golf Final in Turkey, Woods and McIlroy were busy getting their tails kicked by Charl Schwartzel and Matt Kuchar.

Despite losing their respective opening matches to Schwartzel and Kuchar, Woods and McIlroy could still play their way into the tournament final thanks to this week’s medal-match play format. It’s just going to be a lot more difficult to do so.

Woods managed to keep things close in his match against Schwartzel, but still lost by one shot, shooting 70 to the 2011 Masters champion’s 69.

“It came right down to the wire, but I can’t believe how far that second shot flew into the back bunker and that was the match,” said Woods, according to The Associated Press. “It means now that I have to play ‘Kooch’ and try and win that match before facing Rory in the afternoon.”

“Kooch” had his way with McIlroy on Tuesday as well, pulverizing the top-ranked golfer by six shots via their respective scores of 70 and 76. McIlroy’s round included a triple-bogey and two double-bogeys, which he recalled following his round.

“I hit a drive into the trees on 15 and lost a bit of confidence,” said McIlroy, according to the AP. “I need to win both of my matches tomorrow if I am to advance. I just struggled for a bit of motivation out there, so I need to go out and concentrate on both of my matches tomorrow.”

Kuchar was a bit ... surprised by how things turned out in the match.

“I just thought I had to play mistake-free, and hopefully Rory wouldn’t get too hot,” he Kuchar. “There we are all square with four to go, he hits it right and makes triple bogey, and I go three-up with three to go and I think both of us lost a little interest at that point.”

Woods and McIlroy both return to action Wednesday afternoon.