World number one Tiger Woods will make his first competitive appearance in this country in the American Express World Golf Championship at Mount Juliet later this month, it was confirmed today.
The 26-year-old reigning US Open and Masters champion won the inaugural WGC event in 1999 and will join fellow major winners from this season Open Championship hero Ernie Els of South Africa and fellow American Rich Beem, who won the US PGA crown, in the field at the in County Kilkenny venue on September 19th.
"We are delighted Tiger Woods will be competing in the American Express Championship, further enhancing what is already the strongest field ever to be assembled in Ireland," said Championship Director Peter Adams.
"Woods's participation is great news for the thousands of spectators who will gather at Mount Juliet for what is sure to be a great golfing spectacle."
Woods, an eight-time major winner, is no stranger to these shores and regularly uses links courses around the Irish coast to prepare for the British Open.
Most recently, the world's highest paid sportsman broke the course record at the European Club in Co Wicklow as he prepared for this year's Open at Muirfield.
Woods was also among a string of top-class golfers to participate in the J.P. McManus Invitational Pro-Am in Limerick two years ago, taking the first prize to boot.
Players can qualify for the WGC - American Express Championship through a variety of avenues.
The top-50 players from the Official World Golf Ranking as of Monday, September 9th, will be joined in the field by leading money winners from the six Tours that make up the International Federation of PGA Tours.