In what was one of the most bizarre yet funniest scenes in sport when newly crowned golfing World golfing No. 1 Rory McIlroy swapped his golf clubs for a tennis racket and steal a point against former Women’s Tennis World No. 1 Maria Sharapova.

Sharapova was one set up and leading 6 – 3 in the second and final exhibiton match against Caroline Wozinacki at Maddison Square Garden in New York in the lead-up to this week’s event at event Indian Wells in California. 

Caroline Wozinacki looks on as boyfriend Rory McIlroy plays Maria Sharapova at Maddison Square Garden.

There was much fun between Sharapova and Wozinacki when Wozinacki, who was facing set and match point, asked the crowd if there were any men willing to step forward to face the Russian.

McIlroy had his hand up very quickly and Wozinacki had not trouble coaxing him onto the court and much to the pleasure of the crowd.

The Northern Irishman was thrown two tennis balls and discarded one before placing the second on the baseline and pretending to tee-up as though to play a golf shot with his racket.

However after playing an underarm shot McIlroy and Sharapova got into the mood of the occasion but with McIlroy throwing his arms up in delight when Sharapova hit a shot outside the court.

McIlroy returned to his seat triumphant.

McIlroy stopped signing autographs for a moment to listen to Wozniacki’s on-court interview. “He’s 100 percent against Maria,” she told the crowd.

Asked earlier Monday whether she sent him flowers after his win Sunday, Wozniacki said, “Well, I don’t want his head to become too big, so, um, no.”

Wozniacki later tweeted: “Had great fun playing the exhibition with Sharapova in Madison Square Garden.. Even got @mcilroyrory on court and win a point Haha.”

And when McIlroy attended a pre-Cadillac Championship press conference he revealed just how nervous he was facing up to Sharapova.

“No, I’ve never been so nervous in my life,” he said.

“No, I can hit a golf shot in front of a million people, but getting up there‑‑ I mean, I wanted to hit a serve, but I was thinking, if I frame this into the crowd, it’s going to look so bad.  (Laughter).

“So just a little under-arm, over the net.  Maria was nice, she hit it back to me at quite a gentle pace.

Q.  You almost looked like you were mad that Caroline put you in that position.  Were you just wishing that she had not done that?

McILROY:  Well, to be honest, it was because Maria had got someone from the crowd to dance with, and then Caroline turned to the crowd and said, is there any hot guys that want to dance with me. 

“And I’m like, well, I don’t want anyone else dancing with you, so I put my hand up.  Thank God she didn’t ask me to dance.  I was much happier hitting a tennis shot (laughing).”