Around 80,000 lucky cap-holders will, over two days, attend the sixth edition of the JP McManus Invitational Pro-Am in Adare on Monday and Tuesday next.
Since its inception in 1990, the event has raised €140 million for charitable organisations across the Mid-West Region. At its last staging in 2010, the charity event generated around €40 million, and that figure is confidently expected to be surpassed this time around.
Hosted by the McManus family of Martinstown, the world’s best golfers will play alongside amateurs in both a singles competition and team tournament on the Tom Fazio designed and award-winning parkland ‘The Course’ in the sprawling grounds of Adare Manor.
The tournament, due to be held two years ago but postponed until now due to Covid-19, is a complete sell-out. It will be beamed into millions of homes worldwide through live television coverage on Sky Sports and The Golf Channel (USA).
A star-studded line-up includes World Number One Scottie Scheffler, recent US Open winner Matt Fitzpatrick, Rickie Fowler, Cameron Smith, Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, Justin Thomas, Dustin Johnson, Leona Maguire, Brooks Koepka, Shane Lowry, Collin Morikawa, Jon Rahm, Tom Hoge and Pádraig Harrington.
Amateurs on the timesheet are the likes of Mark Wahlberg, Jamie Dornan and Hollywood legend Bill Murray.
Said JP: “We’re privileged to be joined by the world’s greatest golfers; those who have achieved so much in their careers and some incredible personalities to augment the occasion. We’re looking forward to welcoming them to the redesigned Golf Course at Adare Manor, quite a few of them joined us in previous years but may not have seen the work Tom Fazio and his team have done to the course since. Let’s hope for a bit of sunshine to really make what we expect to be a very special couple of days in Limerick.”
Four local amateur teams have also qualified, namely Munster Heart Foundation (Paul Knight, Joe McGrath and John Doyle), Aishling Annacotty AFC (Pat Toomey, Morgan Whelan and Ciaran Keating), Saoirse Addiction Centre (Barry Leddin, Eoin Hanrahan and Seán Carey) and St. Gabriel’s School and Centre (John Flynn, Kevin Hickey and Pat Lee).
Tee-times will be announced on Saturday (www.jpmcmanusproam.com).
The Pro-Am is a welcome boost for the local tourism industry, with hotels, guest houses, pubs, restaurants, taxis, all types of shops and so many more all set to benefit from such an influx of people.
Adare is set to stage the Ryder Cup – a biennial event between Europe and the United States – in 2027.
For next week, a gentle reminder the event is sold-out; pre-booked on-site parking is essential (alternative park and ride, complimentary, at Limerick Racecourse). Gates open daily at 6.30am – groups will start from 7.30am onwards – and the Championship Village will be located near the eighth green.