Wozzilroy’s Shanghai welcome

RORY McIlroy and Caroline Wozniacki – dubbed Wozzilroy by the Northern Irish golfer – were at a welcome reception at the Waitanyuan in Shanghai yesterday ahead of this week’s WGC-HSBC Champions event.

Wozniacki, the world’s No 1 female tennis player, was in China on Sunday to see her boyfriend become £1.25 million richer when he won the Shanghai Masters at Lake Malaren by beating Anthony Kim in a play-off.

This week the US Open champion is chasing a £720,000 first prize alongside this year’s other major winners – Masters Champ Charl Schwartzel, Open winner Darren Clarke and Keegan Bradley, who triumphed at the USPGA.

World No 1 Luke Donald has skipped the event to be at the birth of his second child, while Spaniard Sergio Garcia has opted to take a rest after back-to-back wins in Europe lifted him back into the world’s top 20.

Paul Lawrie is the only Scot in the field, and the defending champion is Italian Ryder Cup player Francesco Molinari, who fended off Lee Westwood in a thrilling finish 12 months ago.

England’s Simon Dyson is also in Shanghai and the 33-year-old would love to add to the Irish Open and KLM Open titles he has already landed in 2011.

“It’s weird the success I’ve had out here and it’s amazing what it’s done for my confidence,” said Dyson, who won three titles in his maiden season on the Asian Tour in 2000. “Every time I come this way, I feel as if I’m going to play well. And, though I don’t want this to sound big-headed, I have this feeling that everyone else knows.”