Biggest pro-am in the world? Tiger, Rory and all the top stars are playing it this week

The field is nothing short of amazing. Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, Jordan Spieth. We’re just getting started. 

Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa. Have we failed to mention Bryson DeChambeau? These are the mega-wattage names taking part in the J.P. McManus pro-am Monday and Tuesday in Limerick, Ireland, played at Adare Manor, the 2027 Ryder Cup host. 

McManus is an Irish billionaire, philanthropist and businessman, who has hosted a pro-am in his name ever since 1990. Only this pro-am is different than, say, the Pebble Beach variety. The McManus Pro-am is scheduled only once every five years. Perhaps that’s how it is able to attract such an impressive field. 

When the field was finalized in June, it included 30 of the top 100 players in the world. It would have been the best tournament field in the world this past weekend — by a wide margin — when the Irish Open, the John Deere Classic and the LIV Golf Portland Invitational all took place. 

Travel

So Woods and all the best players are arriving this weekend (or soon to arrive) in central Ireland for the Monday-Tuesday event. Woods himself arrived Sunday morning at Adare Manor while a number of players who competed in Portland likely flew through the night (and much of Sunday) to arrive in time. 

As for its namesake, McManus was a longtime part-owner in Manchester United Football Club before selling in the mid-2000s for a healthy profit. He is also a longtime racehorse owner, and has kept a relatively low profile. According to The Independent, one of his horses was even named “No Comment.”

The pro-am itself was established to raise funds for charities in the region, and has grown from an initial €1.2 million in 1990 to a whopping €43.7 million brought in by the 2010 event. The pro-am was scheduled for a triumphant return in 2020, but was delayed multiple years due to the pandemic. 

It’s not just big name golfers who take part in the event. A quick perusal of the tee times shows golf-addicted celebrities like Bill Murray and Niall Horan are grouped together. Rounding out that A-list group is Jamie Dornan, an Irish actor best known for his leading role in the series of 50 Shades of Grey movies. 

Jay Monahan, PGA Tour commissioner, will be on hand. So, too, will be Keith Pelley, his counterpart at the DP World Tour. They’ll be intermixed in a field among various players who defected from their tours, making for interesting practice range fodder. 

Rory McIlroy has purchased a foursome in the pro-am, which will be filled by his father, his agent and his business manager. After the draw, they’ve earned the chance to peg it alongside Xander Schauffele and John Murphy, a young Irish golfer. 

For more on the list of pros and amateur contestants and when they’ll be playing, check out the rundown of tee times and groups below.