Woods salvages Turkey hopes as McIlroy set for early flight home

(CNN) -- World No.1 Rory McIlroy was facing an early exit from the World Golf Final in Turkey after a second straight loss Wednesday in the $5.2 million exhibition tournament.

McIlroy went down to American Matt Kuchar in his first match and crashed to a fresh defeat by a single stroke to Charl Schwartzel of South Africa at the Antalya Golf Club in Belek.

But Tiger Woods revived his hopes of making the semifinals with a four-under-par 67 to beat Ryder Cup colleague Kuchar by five strokes.

An electrical storm wiped out the afternoon session where McIlroy was due to play Woods in their final group match.

Greatest sporting drama of all time?

Europe's historic Ryder Cup comeback

It will now proceed Thursday morning, but McIlroy has only a remote mathematical chance of going through under the medal matchplay format.

Standing five-over-par after his two matches, McIlroy would have to make up five shots on Kuchar and no less than 10 strokes on Woods, assuming that results go his way.

PGA Championship winner McIlroy fell victim to a run of three birdies in the last four holes from the 2011 Masters winner as he finished on level-par 71.

"You can't really do much about that," McIlroy told Sky Sports.

"So in my match now against Tiger, I will be out to get back a bit of pride and at least leave here winning one match," he added.

The Northern Irishman has also confirmed he will defend his title at the Hong Kong Open next month.

In Group Two of the eight-man event, Justin Rose continued his fine form with a three-shot victory over fellow Englishman Lee Westwood.

Rose, who beat Hunter Mahan in this first match Tuesday, carded a five-under 66 to guarantee his passage to the semifinals.

Reigning U.S. Open champion Webb Simpson increased Mahan's problems with a lowest round of the day 65 to beat his fellow American by two strokes.

The leading two players will advance to the semifinals Thursday afternoon with the final Friday.

Meanwhile, the European Tour confirmed Wednesday that a $7 million stroke play event will be staged at the same venue next November.

Andrew Chandler's International Sports Management group, who have organized this week's World Golf Finals, will promote the new tournament.

"This tournament ticks a lot of boxes for Turkey who are really driving towards a bid for the 2020 Olympics (In Istanbul), he told the official European Tour website.

"Hosting big events like this tournament can only help that strategy and to be able to announce a three year deal for a $7 million tournament is a very rare thing these days."

"Turkey is one of the fastest developing golf nations in the world and the Turkish Open will further enhance the country's golfing credentials," Keith Waters, the chief operation officer of the European Tour said.

The tournament will be played on a course designed by former European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie.