JP McManus Invitational Pro-Am Golf Tournament

July 5 / By JSM / InAround the world

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It was back in 1990 that County Limerick native JP McManus – a renowned figure in National Hunt racing and the world’s financial circles – had the idea of running a Pro-Am golf event to raise as much money as possible for good causes in the Irish mid-west.

The Irish mid-west is one of the most beautiful areas of the Emerald Isle, famed for its landscape and history. And Adare, where the event is being held, was once voted Ireland’s most beautiful and tidiest village. The region’s biggest benefactor over the years has been JP McManus himself. The owner of this year’s Grand National winner Don’t Push It is so fondly looked upon in these parts that he was recently given the keys to the city of Limerick. To date, the Pro-Am has raised more than €55 million – all going towards supporting charities and groups in their work with the underprivileged and disadvantaged in the region. To play their part, the charities and other groups organise pre-qualifying tournaments across Ireland in an effort to enter teams into the Pro-Am, and of course to raise money for good causes.

The tournament itself – which has a prize fund of €1 million for the professionals, of which up to €300,000 could go to the overall winner – is comprised of 54 teams of four players. Each team has one professional and three amateurs. Professional golfers involved this year include two-time major winner, Angel Cabrera of Argentina, rising US star Nick Watney, 2005 Pro-Am winner Padraig Harrington, and the likes of Jim Furyk, Ernie Els, Lee Westwood, Anthony Kim, Paul Casey, Ian Poulter, Luke Donald, Robert Allenby, Camilo Villegas, Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell, and – McManus promises – Tiger Woods. Celebrities playing include: Michael Flatley, Martin O’Neill, Niall Quinn, Aidan Quinn, Hugh Grant, AP McCoy, Kyle MacLachlan and Samuel L Jackson.

The Tournament will be held at the Adare Manor Golf Club, Adare, County Limerick from the 5h to the 6th of July. The course was designed by the legendary American architect Robert Trent Jones Sr. It staged the Irish Open in 2007 and 2008 when the winners were Ireland’s Padraig Harrington and England’s Richard Finch. A parkland layout on the banks of the trout-rich River Maigue, it is one of the best and most challenging courses in Ireland, and also one of the most picturesque. Decided over 36 holes, 18 each day, with €1 million on offer for the professionals, with up to €300,000 to the winner. There are six team prizes of highly attractive Tipperary crystal. Your cap is your ticket! Choose from eight distinctive two-day entrance caps: those representing the six counties of Munster, the Ireland cap and the Munster cap. They cost €50 each, and under-16’s get in for free. source…