Tiger happy to repay 'amazing' McManus

Charlie Mulqueen

Tiger Woods yesterday insisted it had nothing to do with his presence and was all about JP's friendship and what he had done for Tiger himself and many others in the elite field at Adare Manor Hotel and Golf Resort.

"It is special for all of us to come and support an event like this," said the world's number one player.

"He does amazing things. What he's doing this week is no exception to what he did in 2000. When he asks you to do something, you can't wait to do it.

"That's the kind of person he is. Look at the field he has assembled this week. We are all here for him. It's a special week for all of us. It's not about me. This is all for JP.

"It's good to have a lot of the best players in the world here but we come here to support him and not as some of the best players in the world.

"You have no idea what he has done for me in my life and my good buddy (Mark) O'Meara. We are very close to JP and his entire family and any time we can support him and his cause, we are always there."

All of which is very nice without necessarily explaining how this phenomenon comes about.

Asked to provide examples of what McManus has done for him, Woods responded:

"Whether in business or friendship, he was gracious enough to have a special day for me and my wife at a hotel he owns. These are wonderful things. He doesn't have to do them. That's what people don't understand. It's just unbelievable."

Tiger and his Swedish wife Elin celebrated their wedding in 2003 at Sandy Lane, the luxurious Barbados hotel owned by JP and his friend Dermot Desmond.

Elin is not here this week, her husband quipping that "she is up in Sweden enjoying their one week of summer."