The world’s current ranked World No. 1 ranked golfer was certainly no match for former British No. 1 tennis star Tim Henman.

The duo were guests tonight at a Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship coctail party held in the ballroom of the stunning St. Regis Hotel at Saadiyat Island in the UAE capital.

Strangely, the night before the room had been turned into a conference room and was the venue where Ireland’s Paul McGinley was officially confirmed as Europe’s 2014 Ryder Cup captain.

McIlroy along with fellow Irish Padraig Harrington, Shane Lowry and Peter Lawrie had been present in the room to be among the firlst to congratulate McGinley.

However 24 hours later the ballroom was the venue for the post Pro-Am celebration.

Along with McIlroy other Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship players present included World No. 2 Tiger Woods, four-time Major winning and the reigning Open Champion, Ernie Els.

As well, England’s Justin Rose along with his mother were present.

HSBC had installed three activities where guests could get involved.  Firstly, there was a 50-foot artificial turf  putting green where only two guests all evening managed to find the bottom of the cup.

Also there was a computerised nearest to the pin contest you’ve seen at many tournaments where guests were firing at one of the par threes on this week’s National Club course and hoping to win the prize.

However for the tennis enthusiasts, like McIlroy, there was the opportunity to have the speed of your serve measured.

McIlroy is, of course, a fan of tennis given his girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki is a former World No. 1 and is presently competing in the first Grand Slam title of 2013 – the Australian Open.

However when McIlroy stepped up to the baseline the speed of his best serve was just 63mph.  He tried to better that but it wasn’t till he played a two-hand shot the 23-year old managed to get to 86mph.

Enter Henman!

Henman had been competing in the Pro-Am and in sending down his first serve it was measured at 85mph.  His secondy was the best of the evening at exactly100 mph.

While Woods only stayed for a short time, McIlroy obviously enjoyed the occasion and was observed chatting with rugby greats Gavin Hastings of Scotland and legendary Welshman Jonathon Davies.

And for the record the world’s best golfer left the room and headed back to his St. Regis hotel room at 9.15pm local time.

World No. 1 Rory McIlroy fires off a serve during the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship Pro-Am cocktail party at the St. Regis hotel in Abu Dhabi. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)