GOLF: Tiger Woods heads a stellar line-up for the JP McManus Invitational Pro-Am at the superbly-appointed Adare Manor Hotel & Golf Resort from July 4th-5th. Woods, the new US Masters champion who won a fourth green jacket at the weekend, is the defending champion in the McManus tournament, having won the last staging in 2000.
Woods will defend his title against some of the world's top players, in including his close friend and double major winner Mark O'Meara, Fred Couples, Lee Janzen, Jose-Maria Olazabal and some of Europe's victorious 2004 Ryder Cup winning team including Padraig Harrington, Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley, Luke Donald, Colin Montgomerie, Ian Poulter and David Howell.
Ian Woosnam, who will captain the European team at the K Club in 2006 has also confirmed his participation as have Australians, Adam Scott, Robert Allenby and Stuart Appleby.
The tournament boasts a prize fund of €1 million and comprises 54 teams (one professional with three amateurs). The proceeds - all monies raised will be distributed - go to a host of worthy charitable causes in the mid west region. Over 7,000 golfers will have competed in pre-qualifier tournaments for a coveted place in the competition proper by July. There will also be some top exponents from the sporting and entertainment worlds taking part.
Speaking at the launch, Mark O'Meara said: "This is a truly unique tournament and I am delighted to be part of it. We always look forward to coming to Ireland to JP's Pro-Am to spend some quality time with some great people in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere."
For the first time tickets to attend the tournament outside the ropes will be sold in the form of baseball caps and they are available at www.jpmcmanusgolf.com or through a dedicated ticket line at 061-478022.
Meanwhile, Hawaiian schoolgirl Michelle Wie has accepted a sponsor's invitation to compete at the US PGA Tour's John Deere Classic in July. It will be the second time this season that the 15-year-old has played on the men's circuit and she has also entered for US Open qualifying next month.
"Everyone we've told is excited," tournament director Clair Peterson said yesterday.
"We expect there would be spectators who might not come out otherwise. She may be one of those players that has interest across all kinds of different demographic lines."
Wie, who has been hailed as the Tiger Woods of the women's game, also played at the Sony Open in Hawaii in January, shooting rounds of 75 and 74 in blustery conditions to miss the cut by seven strokes.
Last year, she fired a 68 in the second round of the Sony Open, the lowest score ever by a female competing against men, to miss the cut by one shot.
The John Deere Classic will be held at the Tournament Players Club in Silvis, Illinois between July 7th and 10th.
