Darren Clarke ended 22 months of flying under the radar with a morale-boosting victory in the JP McManus Invitational Pro-Am that he hopes might open the doors to St Andrews and an unlikely late run for Ryder Cup glory.

Gentleman. That was the word most often used by horse-racing great Mick Fitzgerald following his thrill-of-a-lifetime round with Tiger Woods at Adare Manor.

Tiger Woods will be looking anxious over his shoulder for Irish duo Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy when he bids for a hat-trick of Open Championship wins over the Old Course next week.

Tiger Woods is hopeful that the special appeal of St Andrews can inspire him to a third successive Open Championship victory at St Andrews next week.

Tiger Woods golf game matched his torrid private life as he crashed to a whopping 79 in the first round of the JP McManus Invitational Pro-Am.

But if the world number one is concerned about his form and impending multi-million dollar divorce from his estranged wife Elin, he got resounding support from the 40,000 fans who packed Adare Manor as well as two multiple major champions in Padraig Harrington and John Daly.

Graeme McDowell confessed that he’s dizzy with excitement, not altitude sickness, having climbed to the summit of world golf with his dramatic US Open win at Pebble Beach.

Tiger Woods will flash his billion dollar smile for charity when he tees it up in the star-studded JP McManus Invitational Pro-Am at Adare Manor today and tomorrow.

Tiger Woods has confirmed that he will tee it up for charity in the JP McManus Invitational Pro-Am next month.

The world No 1 will be the star attraction at Adare Manor in Limerick alongside Padraig Harrington, Rory McIlroy and a host of international stars from July 5-6.

Tiger Woods at Adare Manor in 2005

Tiger Woods looks set to keep his promise and tee it up for charity in July’s JP McManus Invitational Pro-Am.

At least that’s the view of billionaire organiser McManus, who hopes to raise millions for good causes when a stellar field turns up at Adare Manor from July 5-6.

Tiger Woods must be considered a doubtful starter for next year's JP McManus Invitational Pro-Am and the Open at St Andrews. 

Organisers of the 36-hole charity event announced yesterday that Jim Furyk, Ernie Els and Robert Allenby have agreed to join the growing constellation of stars who will tee it up at Adare Manor from July 5-6 next year.

But just two weeks after heralding Woods as one of the leading attractions alongside Irish stars Padraig Harrington and Rory McIlroy, there was no mention whatsoever of the world's most sought after man in the latest news release.

Under fire Tiger Woods has not turned his back on next July's JP McManus Invitational Pro-Am.

The world No 1 is still set to touch down at Adare Manor in Limerick from July 5-6 despite being surrounded by a storm of controversy since his Florida car accident 12 days ago.

A spokesperson for the two-day charity pro-am said: "As far as we know, Tiger is still coming. We've heard nothing to the contrary."