The sun came out as if on cue for the launch on Friday of The JP McManus Pro-Am 2020 at Adare Manor in Limerick.
This was hardly an ordinary launch though with Rory McIlroy and Paul McGinley taking on Padraig Harrington and Shane Lowry in a fourball with a €500,000 prize fund that ended up being split equally between their respective charities after the match finished all square.
All four will be back on 6th and 7th July 2020, likely alongside the best golfers in the world for a tournament that was last held in 2010 in front of 80,000 spectators.
Over €100 Million has been raised by the tournament since its inception in 1990. Tiger Woods, Justin Rose and Ernie Els have graced the fairways alongside celebrities including Samuel L Jackson and Hugh Grant.
The tournament returns to The Golf Course at Adare Manor which has been completely redesigned and is set to become one of the most recognised layouts in world golf.
The competition format remains unchanged comprising one professional and three amateurs who will compete over the two days of the event.
“It is with great pleasure and excitement that we announce the sixth staging of the Pro-Am, to be held in July 2020,” said Host JP McManus.
“Our heartfelt thanks go to Rory, Padraig, Paul and Shane for giving up their time to join us today. This is an event that we are very proud to host and we’re delighted to see it grow so much since the very first Pro-Am held at Limerick Golf Club in 1990.”
“We’re looking forward to extending a very Irish welcome to all the professionals and amateurs who will travel to Adare Manor in two years’ time, and also to acknowledge all the charities who put so much time and effort into their fantastic work.”
“In international golf, this is recognised as one of the best organised and most enjoyable charity pro-ams on Tour,” said McIlroy.
“The combination of true community spirt, great supporters and players, a world-class golf course, all make it a fantastic and fun-filled tournament. I was delighted when JP asked me to play in 2020 and I’ve no doubt it will be even more spectacular this time round, particularly playing on the newly redesigned championship golf course at Adare Manor.”
The launch and reaction to the course will add fuel to the growing sense that Adare Manor could host the Ryder Cup in 2026, two decades after its only visit to ireland at the K Club.
The European Tour have suggested that it will be after this year’s staging in Paris that the selection procedure for 2026 is decided and communicated to interested parties. The 2022 Ryder Cup will be staged in Rome. The US has already announced its venures through to 2032.
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Image credit: Morgan Treacy, Inpho Photography
