Fans will have another chance to take a peek at how Tiger Wood’s game is coming along on Monday, as he is playing with Irish businessman Michael Smurfit, Tony Smurfit and Sharon Smurfit at the J.P. McManus Pro-Am in Ireland. The family’s company once owned the K Club outside Dublin.
There was no sounding of the alarms on Golf Twitter over the weekend, according to Golf Digest, no wild frenzy from fans watching anxiously to see if a certain iconic golfer’s private jet had taken off for a trans-Atlantic flight. Unlike the Masters, PGA Championship and U.S. Open, Tiger Woods was not reluctant to share his intent to play in the upcoming Open Championship at St. Andrews.
The legendary golfer has called the Old Course his favorite in the whole wide world, and for a 46-year-old player, the course layout seems to be a good fit for a recuperating golfer, following significant injuries to his right leg after his roll-over car accident in February 2021.
Prior to arriving in Scotland and the Home of Golf, however, Woods’ schedule plans include one early stop. Shortly after playing the Masters in April and stating that he had his sights set on St. Andrews, The former World No. 1 player also announced he was dedicated to competing July 4-5 in the J.P. McManus Pro-Am at Adare Manor in Limerick, Ireland.
As Woods continues to recover from his injury, one may wonder why he decided to participate. What is the J.P. McManus Pro-Am anyway? And Why is Tiger playing in it? Because, we recall that he struggled with tiredness during his round at the Masters in April, finishing 47th, and at the PGA Championship in May, the golfer did not complete the round, withdrawing before the end. And, remember, he did not play in the U.S. Open in June, saying he choose to rest up for the Open. So, the question is why then play a week ahead in a pro-am?
Consider this, the J.P. McManus isn’t just this isn’t any pro-am tournament. Irish businessman and philanthropist McManus hosts the two-day event and he also owns, among other things, Adare Manor, which is scheduled to host the 2027 Ryder Cup. At age 71, McManus launched his first pro-am back in 1990 and has continuously held the event every five years through 2010. Tiger has a history with the tournament and previously played in it in 2000, 2005 and 2010.
The event has also been an impressive fundraiser in its region for charities, garnering $160 million in the first five events, According to the pro-am’s website. The pro-am was postponed in 2020 due to the COVid pandemic, missing a scheduled sixth run, so this 2022 tournament is making an exciting return.
The J.P. McManus is highly popular with nine of the top 10 players in the World Ranking competing, and roughly 30 of the top 100 players, each paired with three amateur partners. The players confirmed to play include: Scottie Scheffler, Matt Fitzpatrick, Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, Justin Thomas, Rory McIlroy, Collin Morikawa, Jordan Spieth. Notably, the first Irishwoman to win a LPGA Tour event, Leona Maguire, is also playing.
Joining the list of top pros competing are also some recognizable amateur players: including Niall Horan, Jamie Doran and Bill Murray. Peek this, PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan is also playing in the tournament (with his pro Tom Hoge and other amateurs are Johann Rupert and Phil Hogan) and DP World Tour CEO Keith Pelley (his pro is Brandon Stone and other amateurs are Guy Kinnings and Keith Waters). So, the line-up is quite stunning.
to watch the pro-am, it will be streamed on Peacock from 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. EDT on Monday and Tuesday, with a replay shown on Golf Channel from 7 p.m.-12:30 a..m. each night.
