Tiger Who? Golf Fans At JP McManus Pro-Am Reserve Their Biggest Roar For Local Hurling Hero John Kiely

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There could have been a galaxy of stars from the worlds of movie, music and golf on the sixth JP McManus Professional-Am in Adare right now, however the residence followers reserved their greatest roar of the day for native hero John Kiely.

resh from his nail-biting semi-final in Croke Park on Sunday, the Limerick senior hurling supervisor was the star everybody wished to get their picture taken with – leaving 15-times Main winner Tiger Woods within the shade.

“Are you able to signal this, John?…Effectively accomplished, John… Better of luck, John,” shouted moms, fathers, grandparents and youngsters, because the hurling impresario made his technique to meet Tiger on the first tee.

“Positive, he’s one in every of our personal, and he’s put us in one other All-Eire last,” quipped a person balancing on his tippy-toes behind a scrum of journalists, spectators, safety personnel and course stewards, to catch a glimpse of the Limerick supervisor.

Kiely grabbed Tiger, patted him on his again, and later joked that the US golf legend wanted to “work on his weak facet”.

“There’s occasions we may do with him in Croke Park,” continued Kiely, who beckoned Limerick hurling captain and native sporting hero Declan Hannon into the fold because the GAA stars and Woods posed for images with McManus within the center.

4 July 2022; Tiger Woods of USA, left, and Limerick hurler Gearóid Hegarty throughout day one of many JP McManus Professional-Am at Adare Manor Golf Membership in Adare, Limerick. Picture by Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile

Some 40,000 golf followers descended on Adare right now for the primary day of the occasion.

Gazing throughout a sea of spectators, Woods – who survived a near-fatal automobile crash in Los Angeles final 12 months – was misplaced for phrases when requested by the Irish Impartial if he had been practising his hurling swing however provided that the crowds have been “actually loopy”.

The day was all about “having enjoyable”, he stated.

“It’s nice to be again, it is a completely relaxed ambiance – that is all about charity, that is about having enjoyable and doing one thing for the native communities, and what JP has accomplished over time has been really outstanding, and we’re right here to help him,” he added.

A barely frail-looking Woods was pushed across the course which hosts the Ryder Cup in 2027. “It was loads simpler after I was strolling so I don’t know the way the hell I’m gonna get my cart round right here, so we’ll see,” he added.

The US golf legend is fortunate to be nonetheless standing on a golf course given what occurred to him final 12 months. Nevertheless, the large roar of applause and whoops from the gang, after he thundered his first shot straight down the golf green, confirmed the Tiger has but to be tamed.

In the meantime, 2020 Hurler of the Yr Gearóid Hegarty was busy signing autographs on the sidelines. He admitted that even he was right here to see “the primary man” Woods – “that’s why all of the crowds are right here, to see him”.

Native Tiger fanatic James “Bomba” Hogan was thrilled when Woods gave him a “thumbs-up” after the Rathkeale superfan confirmed him his arm emblazoned with an enormous tattoo of the American golfer holding the British Open Claret Jug.

“I simply love Tiger, I really like the best way he performs, and I’ve received some huge cash on him over time, he noticed the tattoo and gave me the thumbs-up, I’m hoping he’ll autograph it later,” he stated.

One other fan, Chrissie Sheedy, who travelled to Adare from Kilcullen, Co Kildare, together with her husband Declan, was beaming when she bagged one in every of Woods’s golf balls on the follow greens.

“It’s a Bridgestone 1, are you able to get his signature for me, however be sure you give it again although,” Ms Sheedy requested.

“We’re right here for 2 days, it’s completely fantastic, sensible, an excellent ambiance, and seeing Tiger is simply completely wonderful,” she added.

Eleven of the world’s high 12 golfers answered JP McManus’s name to help the Professional-Am, which has already raised a complete of €140m for charities throughout the mid-west and with extra to come back on the again of this 12 months’s occasion.

Movie star autograph hunters weren’t left disillusioned as they received up shut with the likes of Hollywood actors Invoice Murray and Jamie Dornan, pop stars Kian Egan, Shane Filan and Nicky Byrne from Westlife, in addition to horse-racing legends Tony McCoy, Mick Fitzgerald, Johnny Murtagh, Charlie Swan and Ruby Walsh.

Invoice Murray, who accompanied McManus to Croke Park for Limerick’s frantic semi-final win the day prior to this, instructed the Limerick Chief: “Effectively, I performed golf with JP McManus and he beat me fairly soundly so I’ve been practising ever since. My solely handicap right now shall be if I run into any kinfolk of mine, that’ll be the massive downside, or if I begin ingesting on the (course).”

Former Republic of Eire striker, Niall Quinn, who went across the course with British golf legend Nick Faldo was feeling “what a toddler should really feel like once you go to Disneyland for the primary time”.

Standing in awe beside his {golfing} heroes, he stated: “It’s simply wonderful, extraordinary and I’m thrilled to be a part of it.”

In the meantime, Rory Mcllroy was additionally up for the “craic”, borrowing Tiger’s driver and making ready for chilling out afterwards. He stated: “It’s good enjoyable, even final night time, getting along with everybody, having a few drinks and the craic, it’s what it’s all about.”

And regardless of being on the identical workforce as bandmates Shane Filan and Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan was engaged on a plan to “secretly beat each of them as a result of they’re greater into their golf than I’m”.