Tiger Woods to play in Irish pro-am before Open

Tiger Woods is a regular visitor to Ireland on the eve of the Open

World number one Tiger Woods will fine tune his game ahead of the Open at a pro-am event in Ireland next month.

Woods heads a high-quality line-up at the 5-6 July JP McManus Invitational Pro-Am at Adare Manor in Co Limerick.

"Like my own Foundation, I understand the importance and necessity of raising funds to help deserving individuals - this tournament does that," he said.

Woods has played four tournaments since taking nearly five months off following revelations about his private life.

When the event was last staged in 2005 it raised more than 30 million euros for charity.

Woods joins Lee Westwood, Jim Furyk, Ian Poulter, Ernie Els, Luke Donald, Paul Casey, Rory McIlroy, Martin Kaymer, Robert Allenby, Padraig Harrington and Camilo Villegas in the field for the 36-hole pre-Open competition.

Samuel L Jackson, Michael Douglas, Hugh Grant, Kyle MacLachlan and the pop group Westlife are among the celebrities who have agreed to take part.

The Open will be staged at St Andrews on 15-18 July.