After spending the day ‘chasing the pearl’ Rory McIlroy will now focus on banking the cash in this week’s WGC – HSBC Champions event in Shanghai.

McIlroy joined four other stars of this week’s $US 7.5m event by performing a traditional Chinese dragon dance high on a rooftop overlooking The Bund in the heart of the Chinese financial capital.

U.S. Open champ McIlroy joined PGA champion, Keegan Bradley, World No. 2 Lee Westwood, top Aussie Adam Scott and defending HSBC champ, Francesco Molinari in guiding the dragon in a ritual signifying the pursuit of wisdom and excellence.

McIlroy heads into the event buoyed in taking out last week’s Shanghai Masters title.

It was only McIlroy’s fourth pro career title but with no World Ranking or Race to Dubai points on offer, the current World No. 3 is out to make amends this week.

* Photo – Courtesy of HSBC Champions.

McIlroy’s prime goal is to take a big bite out Luke Donald’s lead at the top of the Race to Dubai given the World No. 1 has taken the week off ahead of his wife expecting their second child.

“On one level the top players are simply focused on preparing to play the best they can in each event, but at this point of the season we all have one eye on trying to catch Luke at the top of the Race to Dubai,” said McIlroy.

“Winning the HSBC Champions this week would be a huge step towards achieving this goal.”

But then Westwood will be out to spoil any McIlroy winning takeaway and beat his former management stable mate to the £750,000 first prize purse.

And Westwood has extra incentive as he’s never won a WGC.

“It’s been one of my goals to peak in the biggest events, and top-ten finishes in the U.S. Open and PGA Championship isn’t a bad return on the year, but it would feel a lot better with a win here,” he said.

“I played some fantastic golf here last year and finished nine shots clear of the rest of a great field.

“Unfortunately there was just one player who performed just a fraction better than me.”