All eyes on Tiger in Adare

Tiger Woods will flash his billion dollar smile for charity when he tees it up in the star-studded JP McManus Invitational Pro-Am at Adare Manor today and tomorrow.

But the struggling world No 1 had better watch out for Adare specialist Padraig Harrington, who’s determined to slow down his bid to smash Jack Nicklaus’ record of 19 major titles.

Eight of the world’s top 10, including 14 players with 35 major wins, will join a constellation of amateur stars from showbiz and sport in an event that has raised over €55m for good causes since 1990.

And while it’s all about helping the less fortunate, all the pros have one eye on The Open at St Andrews in 10 days’ time with triple major winner Harrington determined to add to his grand slam haul.

Looking forward to putting the finishing touches to his Open build-up at helping to raise millions for charity, Harrington said: “ It’s a nice build-up going into the Open Championship because the players can see how their game is without necessarily putting it under too much scrutiny. 

“All the guys know they’ll have good company during the week and they know they’ll enjoy it.”

Over 50,000 fans turned up in 2005 as McManus and his friends raised a massive €31.5 m for charities in the Shannon region and further afield.

But the field can expect no charity from Harrington, who has used success at Adare to push on to greater things in the past.

In the 2005 Pro-Am the Dubliner scorched to a closing 63 to win by six shots as Woods shot 74 to finish 11 adrift.

While Woods won the Open the following week, Harrington went on to win the Irish Open at Adare in 2006, setting up victory in the Order of Merit that year and giving him the belief that he could finally win a major.

He said: “JP’s Pro-Am was the forerunner to me liking Adare and going out to win the Irish Open and it’s always good to have some positive memories. Having won twice, it can’t get much better.”

While the players will be playing for a €1m prize fund, the real preparation for the Open will begin later this week when many in the stellar field will take advantage of their visit to Ireland to play some links golf.

Woods was expected to fly in early this morning from the AT&T National in Pennsylvania, where he struggled with his game and went into the final round 13 shots behind leader Justin Rose on three over par.

But despite the turmoil in his private life and his erratic play this season, he’s turning up to support pal McManus.

Set for his first appearance outside the US since his world was rocked by a sex scandal late last year, Woods has remained loyal to the man who paid for his lavish wedding.

In 2005, he said: “It’s special for all of us to come to an event like this and support a good friend. JP does amazing things and when he asks for your support, you can’t wait to give it.”

A millionaire businessman and legendary racehorse owner, McManus has assembled a stellar field with Woods joined in Adare by the likes of John Daly, Rory McIlroy, US Open champion Graeme McDowell, Lee Westwood, Jim Furyk, Ernie Els, Luke Donald, Ian Poulter, Paul Casey, Martin Kaymer, Camilo Villegas and Lucas Glover.

He’s also convinced American star Dustin Johnson, the man who collapsed in the final round of the US Open, Henrik Stenson, Rose, Adam Scott and all the top Irish pros including Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley, Peter Lawrie and Damien McGrane.

Harrington added: “He’s a good man to refer to for a bit of advice at times. But you only have to look at the field to see how much the players respect JP.

“It’s the best field in the world outside a major and all the money goes to charity. It’s phenomenal to think that they raised over €31 million last time.”

While there is no charity auction this year, McManus is still hoping to raise millions again with 25 per cent increase in the entry fee for three-member amateur teams to €125,000.

Celebrities taking part include Hollywood stars Michael Douglas, Hugh Grant, Samuel L Jackson and Aidan Quinn but fans can also see dancer Michael Flatley, Irish rugby ace Paul O’Connell and Martin O’Neill, Niall Quinn and Harry and Jamie Redknapp from the world of football.

McIlroy will be making his first appearance in the event and he can’t wait to tee it up.

He said: “Obviously It only happens every five years and form what I’ve heard, the last one was awesome. 

“I know all the guy and I’m really looking forward. It’s great what JP does for everyone and it’s a great way for the guys to relax a little bit before the Open.

“It’s unbelievable that JP has raised €55m for charity in just four pro-ams since 1990. What JP does is phenomenal and that’s why guys come out and support it. It’s such a great cause.”

The field of 54 pros and their amateur team mates will be split into morning and afternoon waves today and tomorrow with shotgun starts at 8 am and 1.30pm.

Woods will go off the first this afternoon with former Irish rugby international Brendan Mullin, racing tycoon John Magnier and Swiss banker Bernard Droux.

All professionals change teams for day two with Woods paired with Jim Brewer and the legendary Irish jockeys Tony McCoy and Mick Fitzgerald from the first tee at 8 am.

JP McManus International ProAm Draw

Today 8.0: Hole 1 G McDowell (NI) with J Chang, K McManus, G Senan. Hole 1a L Donald (Eng) with K MacLachlan, L Brady, MV Magnier. Hole 2 D Howell (Eng) with P Taggart, G Boland, T Servick. Hole 3 D Higgins (Irl) with A Quinn, S Magnier, C O’Brien. 3a S Webster (Eng) with J Brewer, AP McCoy, M Fitzgerald. Hole 4 Peter Lawrie (Irl) with N Nash, D O’Brien, M Danaher. Hole 5 G Fernandez-Castano (Esp) with F Foley, W Shanahan, J Carty. Hole 5a M Campbell (NZ) with N Byrne, S Filan, M Walsh. Hole 6 M Manassero (Ita) with B Hackett, P Hackett, R Hackett. Hole 7 J Van De Velde (Fra) with T Finchem, T Smith, T Woodbridge. Hole 7a A Noren (Swe) with P Ledbetter, K Brown, P Lynch. Hole 8 P McGinley (Irl) with C McCreevy, M Douglas, J Rupert. Hole 9 A Quiros (Esp) with A White, B Arbib, J Arbib. Hole 9a I Poulter (Eng) with H Grant, B Desmond, M Flatley. Hole 10 R McIlroy (NI) with T Taaffe, F Berry, D Scahill. Hole 10a C Villegas (Col) with G Neville, N Whelan, C Foley. Hole 11 J M Olazabal (Esp) with S Smurfit, T Smurfit, M Smurfit Jun. Hole 12 S Hansen (Den) with B Bell, R Desmond, J Mahoney. Hole 12a R Finch (Eng) with M Tabor, R Shine, H Redknapp. Hole 13 S Lowry (Irl) with A Moore, E Grimes, M O’Neill. Hole 14 G Murply (Irl) with D Desmond, J Carr, C Brooks. Hole 15 T Bjorn (Den) with E Talty, E Murrihy, M Talty. Hole 15a D McGrane (Irl) with M Hanley, B Duggan, D Duggan. Hole 16 M Kaymer (Ger) with M Power, K Johnston, P Whelan.  Hole 17 J Edfors (Swe) with J O’Dwyer, N Cummins, J Franklin. Hole 18 R Rock (Eng) with M Kinane, E Browne, I Murphy. Hole 18a P Hanson (Swe) with J Power, S Sleeman, S Barrett.  This afternoon – Shotgun start 1. 30: Hole 1 Tiger Woods (US) with B. Mullin, JP Magnier, B. Doux. Hole 1a M O’Meara (US) with G O’Leary, M. Morris, C O’Dwyer. Hole 2 JB Holmes (US) with M Rozenbroek, J Healy, M Healy. Hole 3 L Glover (US) with K Doherty, H Kohler, M de Los Santos. Hole 3a J Daly with D O’Brien, C Roche, N English. Hole 4 N Watney (US) with E O’Leary, S Donohoe, C Swan. Hole 5 B Curtis (US) with K Wood, J Drumm, C Johnson. Hole 5a H Slocum with D O’Connell, M Crawford, K Donohoe. Hole 6 H Stenson (Swe) with B Leddin, D Byrnes, J Quinn. Hole 7 R Allenby (Aus) with D Smith, J Murtagh, S L Jackson. Hole 7a A Scott (Aus) with J Redknapp, P Jones, M Challis. Hole 8, T Lehman (US) with P Gallagher, P Desmond, G. McLaughlin. Hole 9 P Casey (Eng) with G Rupert, J Hegarty, N Quinn. Hole 9 (a) F Funk with G McManus, M McManus, C McManus. Hole 10 P Harrington (Ire) with L. O’Sullivan, B. Broderick, S. Gallagher.Hole 10a D Clarke (NI) with J Francome, N Beucher, P Richards. Hole 11 S Marino (US) with Jim Mulcair, Jaime Mulcair, C Gilligan. Hole 12 L Westwood (Eng) with John Magnier, D Nagle, T Magnier. Hole 12a J Cook (US) with T Forstmann, D Rochat, B Cullen. Hole 13 R. Sabbatini (SA) with Owen McManus, R Butler, E McElroy. Hole 14 S Lyle with J Alvarez, D Magnier, Derry Desmond. Hole 15 E Els (SA) with K O’Hora, M Casey, T Crowe. Hole 15a D Johnson (US) with D Keane, J O’Driscoll, P Lee. Hole 16 J  Rose (Eng) with N McKenna, C Kirby, J Kirby. Hole 17 G Maybin (NI) with B. Diamond, J. Reinhart, F. Ridley. Hole 18, J Furyk (US) with N Diaco, P Hogan, E Irwin. Hole 18a T. Immelman (SA) with G O’Grady, R Hills, R Finnegan.  Tomorrow Morning – Shotgun Start 8.0: Hole 1 T Woods (US) with J Brewer, AP McCoy, M Fitzgerald. Hole 1a G McDowell (NI) with D O’Brien, C Roche, N English. S Hansen (Den) with J Francome, N Beucher, P Richards. Hole 3 M Kaymer (Germany) with G O’Grady, R Hills and R Finnegan. Hole 3a J Cook (US) with G Neville, N Whelan, C Foley. Hole 4 A Quiros (Spain) with N Nash, D O’Brien, M Danaher. Hole 5 D Howell (Eng) with E O’Leary, S Donohoe, C Swan. Hole 5a H Slocum (US) with E Talty, E Murrihy, M Talty. Hole 6 B Curtis (US) with F Foley, W Shanahan, J Carty. Hole 7 T Bjorn (Den) with D O’Connell, M Crawford, K Donohue. Hole 7a F Funk (US) with K O’Hora, M Casey, T Crowe. Hole 8 D Johnson (US) with A Moore, E Grimes, M O’Neill. Hole 9 H Stenson (Swe) with T Finchem, T Smith, T Woodbridge. Hole 9a J Rose (Eng) with P Gallagher, P Desmond, G McLaughlin. Hole 10 E Els (SA) with G McManus, M McManus, C McManus. Hole 10a P Casey (Eng) with P Ledbetter, K Brown, P Lynch. Hole 11 N Watney (US) with P Taggart, G Boland, T Servick. Hole 12 J Furyk (US) with D Desmond, J Carr, C Brooks. Hole 12a P Hanson (Swe) with B Diamond, J Reinhart, F Ridley. Hole 13 R Rock (Eng) with K Doherty, H Kohler, M de Los Santos. Hole 14 M O’Meara (US) with J Redknapp, P Jones, M Challis. Hole 15 R Allenby (Aus) with N Byrne, S Filan, M Walsh. 15a R Sabbatini (SA) with S Smurfit, T Smurfit, M Smurfit junior. Hole 16 T Immelman (SA) with M Power, K Johnston, P Whelan. Hole 17 D Clarke (NI) with B Bell, R Desmond, J Mahony. Hole 18 L Glover (US) with M Kinane, E Browne, I Murphy. Hole 18a S Marino (US) J O’Dwyer, N Cummins, J Franklin.  Tomorrow Afternoon – Shotgun Start 1.30: Hole 1 P Harrington (Ire) with M Tavor, R Shine, H Redknapp. Hole 1a R McIlroy (NI) with A Quinn, S Magnier, C O’Brien. Hole 2 JB Holmes (US) with C McCreevy, M Douglas, J Rupert. Hole 3 G Murphy (Ire) with N Diaco, P Hogan, E Irwin. Hole 3a J Van de Velde (Fra) with B Leddin, D Byrnes, J Quinn. Hole 4 S Lyle with K McLachlan, L Brady, MV Magnier. Hole 5 M Campbell (NZ) with J Murtagh, SL Jackson, D Smith. Hole 6 A Noren (Swe) with G Rupert, J Hegarty, N Quinn. Hole 7 S Webster (Eng) B Mullin, JP Magnier, B Droux. Hole 7a G Fernandez-Castano (Esp) K Wood, K Drumm, C Johnson. Hole 8 P McGinley (Irl) M Rozenbroek, J Healy, M Healy. Hole 9 J Edfors (Swe) Jim Mulcair, Jaime Mulcair, C Gilligan. Hole 9a R Finch (Eng) L O’Sullivan, B Broderick, S Gallagher. Hole 10 C Villegas (Col) T Forstmann, D Rochat, B Cullen. Hole 10a P Lawrie (Irl) A White, B Arbib, J Arbib. Hole 11 S Lowry (Irl) D Keane, J O’Donnell, Dr P Lee. Hole 12 D Higgins (Irl) T Taaffe, F Berry, D Scahill. Hole 12a G Maybin (NI) J Power, S Sleeman, S Barrett. Hole 13 M Manassero (Ita) with H Grant, B Desmond, M Flatley. Hole 14 J Maria Olazabal (Spa) with O McManus, R Butler, E McElroy. Hole 15 L Donald (Eng) with J Alvarez, D Magnier, D Desmond. Hole 15a T Lehman (US) with N McKenna, C Kirby, J Kirby. Hole 16 L Westwood (Eng) with M Hanley, B Duggan, D Duggan. Hole 17 A Scott (Aus) with G O’Leary, M Morris, C O’Dwyer. Hole 18 J Daly (US) with J Chang, K McManus, G Senan. Hole 18a I Poulter (Eng) with B Hackett, P Hackett, R Hackett.