Twenty-year-old McIlroy, the hottest young property in professional golf, and Westwood will be joined in Adare on July 5 and 6, 2010 by English duo Paul Casey and Ian Poulter it was confirmed this week.
The quartet, currently ranked in the world’s top 14, will tee it up alongside world number one Tiger Woods and Ireland’s three-time Major winner Padraig Harrington.
Harrington, the world ranked number five who won this event in 2005, had previously committed to playing in the Pro-Am.
The Pro-Am, which has a prize fund of €1 million is comprised of 54 teams of four players, three amateurs and a professional, competing over two days. A record number of overseas and Irish people are expected to visit Limerick to enjoy the golf and the atmosphere. The aim of the JP McManus Invitational Pro-Am is to support mid-west charities and groups in their work with the underprivileged and the disadvantaged.
All proceeds are donated in their entirety towards the development of these services and over €55 million has been raised since its inception in 1990. Once again, the beneficiary charities are organising pre-qualifying tournaments throughout the country in a bid to enter teams in the Invitational Pro-Am.
Confirmation that Rory McIlroy, who finished only his second full season on the PGA European Tour as Europe’s number two will play in Adare, is sure to swell attendances in Adare.
The 20-year-old from Hollywood, Co Down won his first professional title in the 2009 Dubai Desert Classic and underlined his huge potential with a third place finish in the US PGA Championship. McIlroy is currently ranked 10th in the official world rankings. McIlroy and partner Graeme McDowell finished runners-up to Italian brothers, Edoardo and Francesco Molinari at the Omega Mission Hills World Cup tournament in China last week.
Thirty-six-year-old Westwood, the world’s number four ranked golfer, topped the PGA European Tour’s Order of Merit in 2009 in a season when he was a two-time winner on tour.
Commenting on the announcement JP McManus said: “We are delighted that players of such high calibre have agreed to give up their time to play in the Pro-Am. Given their high world rankings, Lee, Paul and Ian are a great addition to the event and we hope they will attract great crowds to Adare next July.
“For the first time spectators will have the pleasure to witness the skills of Rory McIlroy who, since turning professional in September 2007, has risen to 10th in the world rankings.”
For next July’s Pro-Am, spectators can choose from one of eight different coloured ‘two day entrance caps’ representing Ireland, Munster Rugby and each of the Munster counties. At a cost of €50 each the cap can be purchased on the website on www.jpmcmanusproam.com or at selected retail outlets.
COLM KINSELLA
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