McCoy teams up with Woods
Over 300 guests attended the draw in the players’ marquee at Adare on Saturday evening when stars of the golf course, the race track, the stage and screen, the political world and many other walks of life mingled in a stylish precursor to the main event today and tomorrow.
The draw was conducted by Gary Tait and Jamie Birkmyre of the European Tour, and JP’s son John, and with the names of 13 of the top 16 ranked golfers in the hat, excitement inevitably ran high as each high profile name was called.
There will be a shotgun start at 8am and 1.30pm with Tiger Woods going off the first tee each day.
Having flown in overnight from Pennsylvania, where he was competing in the AT&T National, Woods starts his third McManus Pro-Am at 1.30pm in the company of the Liberties Strategic Services team, also represented by Brendan Mullin, JP Magnier (son of John Magnier) and a successful jockey in his own right, and Swiss financier Bernard Droux.
Those wishing to see Woods in action tomorrow will need to be at the luxurious Co Limerick venue bright and early to see him in action as he goes off at 8am with AP McCoy, who rode McManus’s Don’t Push It to Grand National glory at Aintree in April; former leading jockey Mick Fitzgerald and Jim Brewer.
Having rested up in his home in Lake Nona, Florida, for a few days last week, newly crowned US Open champion Graeme McDowell arrived in Adare in good time yesterday to lead the way off the first tee this morning with the Roselawn team.
He is also an early starter tomorrow when he tees it up with the Denis O’Brien team including O’Brien himself, jockey Christy Roche and Tipperary hurler Nicky English.
Nine of the 54 teams have made it to Adare through a series of qualifiers, and celebrating a great draw on Saturday night were Dromoland members Mike Casey and Tim Crowe and Kevin O’Hora of Ballykisteen who line up on the 15th tee this afternoon with three-times major champion Ernie Els. Crowe, a teacher at St Clements College in Limerick, is a former winner of seven senior Irish athletics titles at 400 metres and 400 metres hurdles and he has also coached the Clare and Limerick hurlers.
“It was marvellous to get here through the qualifiers and now to play with a guy like Ernie Els is a dream come true,” said Crowe. “He is known as the Big Easy because of his pleasant and laid back attitude but he is also a tremendous competitor and so in every respect should be a pleasure to play with.”
The Adare complex has undergone a major transformation to have everything ready for an event that is expected to attract 30,000 visitors each day to the Co Limerick village.
Massive marquees have been constructed to host tomorrow night’s Gala Dinner as well as the media (twice the size as at the previous Pro-Am in 2005) and the players.
Grand stands tower over the 15th, 16th and 18th greens while every conceivable amenity that the public could require will also be available.
JP McManus is not one to waste words. He spoke for no more than a minute after the draw was made but there was a stern edge to his tone when he pleaded with the various teams to play speedily so that the starting times can be adhered to.
“We have 54 teams with 27 for each shotgun start,” he said. “It is difficult for a pro to tell you to pick up your ball but it will be a big help should you do so. Remember, par is your friend, if you can’t do any better you also can’t do any worse.”
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