Tiger Woods plays from the rough on the way to a first round 64. Allsport.
World number one
Tiger Woods jetted in to Ireland on Monday to play in a charity
pro-am tournament organised by millionaire Irish racehorse owner
and gambler JP McManus.
Woods, who had been playing in the Western Open in the U.S.
state of Illinois over the weekend, travelled overnight and
stepped straight on to the tee on his arrival at the Ballyclough
course in Limerick.
Manchester United soccer manager Alex Ferguson and Formula
One motor racing boss Eddie Jordan were among the celebrities
playing in an event expected to raise up to three million Irish
pounds ($3.6 million) for charity.
Amateurs are paying 40,000 Irish pounds ($48,360) per team
to play alongside the likes of Woods and world number two David
Duval.
The two-day event attracted crowds of around some 7,000 on
Monday, with many only having eyes for the Tiger.
"I thoroughly enjoyed it," said Woods. "I like the golf course, I hit
driver almost every hole, just let it go and go find it.
"I hit some trees, carved it up on the greens and holed a few puts, that's
basically how I did it.
"It was a fun challenge to hit the ball low in similar conditions to what we
will probably face next week (at the Open).
"It was a nice relaxing event, I enjoyed the spirit it was played in and I
hit a few good shots along the way too."
Woods is expected to take a fishing holiday in Ireland this
week before heading off to the Scottish course of St Andrew's
for theOpen next week.
