Tiger Woods’ next confirmed start? It looks like it will be overseas, but, no, it’s not the tournament you are thinking.
The official Twitter account of the JP McManus Pro-Am tweeted on Thursday morning that Woods will be playing in the 2022 event, which is scheduled for July 4-5 at Adare Manor Hotel Golf Club in Limerick, Ireland. It’s just one week before the Open Championship returns to St. Andrews, Scotland, a short flight away from Limerick, and perhaps would serve as a good tune-up for Woods, who hasn’t made official how much he plans to play in the next couple of months.
While this pro-am might be unknown to some in the States, it packs a rich history. It was first played in 1990 at Limerick Golf Club and brought in many of the area’s top professionals. It’s evolved since, bringing in names like Fred Couples, Davis Love III, Ernie Els, Colin Montgomerie and, of course, Woods. It moved to the luxurious Adare Manor in 2005.
The event, started by businessman J.P. McManus, puts pros and celebrities with amateur teams and serves as a massive fundraiser benefiting programs that provide vital services to the Mid-West region or Ireland.
“Tiger has been a great friend and avid supporter of the Pro-Am for a very long time and we are absolutely thrilled he has committed to play once again in the tournament,” McManus said in a statement. “His presence at Adare Manor will undoubtedly bring huge excitement to the thousands of spectators and we are very grateful to him for giving up his free time to be with us.”
Woods has known McManus for years and has played in all three of the pro-ams staged since he turned pro. The last time it was held, in 2010, it featured Woods, Dustin Johnson, Adam Scott and Rory McIlroy, among others.
The 2022 event will be the sixth edition. It was scheduled for 2020 but pushed back to 2021, and then again to 2022, due to Covid-19. Woods had already committed to the tournament, but his status was in question after his February 2021 car accident.
Woods, who returned to competitive golf at the Masters and finished 47th, said he would try to play the PGA Championship in May but added he’s “looking forward to St. Andrews,” the Open venue where he’s won two majors.
Collin Morikawa, Bryson DeChambeau, Justin Thomas, Sergio Garcia, Tommy Fleetwood, Brooks Koepka, Jon Rahm, McIlroy, Johnson and Woods are just a handful of the professionals committed to this year’s event. (See the full commitment list here.)
Spectators are allowed, but no tickets are currently available for this year’s event.