Before arriving in Scotland and the Home of Golf, however, Woods is making one early stop. Shortly after playing the Masters in April and stating that he had his sights set on St Andrews, Tiger also announced he was committing to competing July 4-5 in the JP McManus Pro-Am at Adare Manor in Limerick, Ireland.

Given Woods’ limited schedule as he continues to recover from his injury, it’s only natural to ask — What is the JP McManus Pro-Am? And why is Tiger playing in it?

After all, Woods struggled with fatigue when he played at the Masters in April, finishing 47th, and the PGA Championship in May, withdrawing before the final round. He skipped the US Open in June to rest up for the Open. Why then play a week ahead in a pro-am?

Well, this isn’t just this isn’t any pro-am. The two-day event is hosted by McManus, an Irish businessman and philanthropist who owns, among other things, Adare Manor, which is scheduled to host the 2027 Ryder Cup. McManus, 71, first put on the pro-am in 1990 and has held it every five years through 2010. Tiger has previously played in it in 2000, 2005 and 2010.

The event, meanwhile, has been an impressive fundraiser for charities in the region. According to the pro-am’s website, €140 million has been raised in the first five events. The pro-am was scheduled to be held for a sixth time in 2020, but was delayed due to the COVID pandemic, making this year’s event a much-anticipated return.

And just how popular is the event? Well, the field of pros is a who’s who of golf that would make the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and LIV Golf officials jealous. Nine of the top 10 players in the World Ranking are competing, and roughly 30 of the top 100 players, each paired with three amateur partners.

They include: Scottie Scheffler, Matt Fitzpatrick, Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, Justin Thomas, Rory McIlroy, Collin Morikawa, Jordan Spieth, Brooks Koepka. It’s not just men’s professionals playing; Leona Maguire, the first Irishwoman to win a LPGA Tour event, is also playing.

The list of pros competing isn’t the only thing that’s impressive. There are also some recognisable names among the amateurs, including Niall Horan of One Direction fame, Jamie Doran and Bill Murray. Also playing is PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan (his pro is 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).

Woods is playing with Irish businessman Michael Smurfit, Tony Smurfit and Sharon Smurfit. The family’s company once owned the K Club outside Dublin.

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The post Tiger Woods is back in action in Ireland. So what is the JP McManus Pro-Am anyway? appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The pro-am, hosted by Irish billionaire JP McManus, will be held on July 4-5 at the Adare Manor in County Limerick, which will also host the 2027 Ryder Cup. It is the Monday and Tuesday of the week before the Open. This will mark Woods’ fourth appearance in the event, which he won in 2000.

We are over the moon to announce that Tiger Woods will be playing in the 2022 JP McManus Pro-Am. ?

More updates to follow… #JPProAm2022 pic.twitter.com/NSoycjF7at

— JP McManus Pro-Am (@JPProAm) April 14, 2022

Woods will not play in the Scottish Open at the Renaissance Club, which is now an official PGA Tour event as well as a DP World Tour Rolex Series competition, the weekend prior to the Open. He will head to St Andrews shortly after the pro-am.

Woods made his return to competition at last week’s Masters 14 months after sustaining traumatic injuries to his right leg in a car accident. After shooting 78 on Sunday for a 47th-place finish, Woods told Sky Sports that he will play in the 150th Open Championship at St Andrews, where he has won two of his three Open Championships. Woods stopped short of committing to any other event before the Open and said he was not sure whether he’d be able to play in next month’s PGA Championship at Southern Hills.

“I won’t be playing a full schedule ever again,” Woods told Sky Sports. “It’ll be just the big events. I don’t know if I’ll be able to play (the PGA Championship) at Southern Hills or not, but I am looking forward to St. Andrews. That is something that is near and dear to my heart. You know, I’ve won two Opens there, it’s the home of golf, it’s my favorite golf course in the world.

“I will be there for that one. Anything in between that, I don’t know. I will try, there’s no doubt. This week, I will try to get ready for Southern Hills, and we’ll see what this body is able to do.”

Woods joins Rory McIlroy, Collin Morikawa, Justin Thomas, Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and a number of other high-profile players in the JP McManus Pro-Am field.

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The post Tiger Woods to play in JP McManus Pro-Am in Ireland the week before Open Championship appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.