• Shanghai Masters

McIlroy and Westwood square off in Shanghai

ESPN staff
October 26, 2011
Rory McIlroy has been drawn to play alongside Lee Westwood © Getty Images
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Betting Bunker: Westwood to motor past McIlroy

There may be some unease on the first tee on Thursday when Rory McIlroy tees off alongside Lee Westwood at the Lake Malaren Shanghai Masters.

Less than a week after Westwood described McIlroy's decision to ditch manager Andrew 'Chubby' Chandler as "bizarre", the pair have been drawn together for the opening round in China.

Rumours have surfaced that McIlroy's decision to link up with Graeme McDowell's agents Horizon, was influenced by his new girlfriend, tennis world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki, and Chander admitted he was baffled by the news.

"I don't know whether it was his girlfriend (Wozniacki) getting in his ear or someone else but I thought we were doing a pretty good job, to be honest, and I think that's how the outside world saw it," Chandler said. "I don't know if Rory didn't like [me being in the press] but he referred to me as a 'celebrity manager' a couple of times, which I thought was an odd thing to say."

Also competing for the £1.25 million winner's cheque in Shanghai are Padraig Harrington, Colin Montgomerie, Ian Poulter and Paul Casey.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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