McIlroy and Woods, the world’s top two players and biggest attractions, were kept apart for the second Ryder Cup in succession in Chicago, despite the Northern Irishman playing in all five sessions as Europe staged a stunning fightback to retain the trophy.

However, the duo have been drawn in the same group at the Turkish Airlines World Golf Final, a new eight-man event which is not part of the European Tour but features a total purse of £3.2million, with £935,000 to the winner, £620,000 for the runner-up and even £187,000 for seventh and eighth.