Relaxed Woods puts Limerick at ease

Photographers, TV cameras and scribes were all in position as the familiar, black-clad figure approached the 11th tee. Suddenly, Tiger Woods looked to his left and went directly to a boy in a wheelchair holding a programme open on the appropriate page.

The world number one and reigning US Open champion, signed his own image and said quietly: "There you go buddy." It was a moment that 12-year-old Dubliner Stephen Higgins will treasure for the rest of his life.

After all the anxious anticipation, the great moment had come. One of the country's oldest clubs, founded in 1891, was being graced by golfing greatness. It is a course where the back nine was designed in 1927 by the celebrated architect Alister MacKenzie, in between visits to Lahinch and Cork and only a few years before he embarked with Bobby Jones on his most famous work at Augusta National.

In 1997, that magical terrain would be the scene of unprecedented exploits when Woods captured the Masters by a stunning 12-stroke margin. And now, he was at another, albeit more modest MacKenzie creation, as the top attraction in the J P McManus Invitational Pro-Am 2000.

There was a charming informality to the occasion as a crowd, limited to 7,000 spectators, gathered at Ballyclough awaiting the arrival of Woods and fellow USPGA tour players David Duval, Mark O'Meara, Lee Janzen, Rocco Mediate, Stuart Appleby and another Australian, Robert Allenby, who beat Nick Price in a play-off for the Western Open in Chicago on Sunday.

That was an event in which Woods played almost like a normal practitioner of the Royal and Ancient game, shooting rounds of 70, 69, 70 and 72 for a share of 23rd place and prize money of $26,700. In fact he can comfortably outstrip that figure here today, when the winner's 36-hole cheque will be £33,330 sterling.

The arrival of O'Meara and that of his colleagues at lunchtime yesterday was the stuff of high-powered political dramas. Would they arrive by road or by air? Would they be together or in separate cars? Perhaps a squad car.

McManus, a wealthy international financier, made all the travel arrangements. By his own private jet? "We got them here," he replied with a quiet smile. In the event, I felt certain of missing nothing as I waited at lunchtime in the grounds of the golf club with the captain, Robin Bowe. As we waited, Bowe talked of the club's appreciation of McManus's determination to stage the event at Ballyclough, where he had donated the charming "Wee Tee" building beside the 11th tee back in 1995. And how the financier and his wife Noreen had been made honorary life members last December in appreciation of all they had done for the club.

Alex Ferguson passed behind us having played in the morning section of a format involving two shotgun starts. Somehow the green sweater seemed to be the wrong colour, especially for a former Rangers player. Either way, few seemed to be taking notice.

Keith Wood provoked a lot more attention, though heads turned frequently for fear of missing the grand arrival. "Nerves before a rugby international are nothing compared with playing in something like this," said the Irish skipper, who admitted to a 13-handicap out of Portumna GC as "a bit strange". And how was his first drive? "I got it out there," he grinned.

All the while, we were being given the slip. The players had been flown by helicopter from their base at Adare Manor, but instead of landing at the course, they came to earth about 400 yards away on a field beside the McManus homestead. Whereupon they made a social call on his 78-year-old mother Bridie. Much to the credit of greens officer Michael Galvin and the ground staff, the course looked to be in magnificent condition as Woods prepared to set off in the afternoon shotgun. Indeed a machine was trimming the approach to the second green as the crowds scampered towards the 11th. As usual in such circumstances, Woods' starting point was a deplorably kept secret.

Before heading off, he had time for some words, while fireworks went off in the background. "I'm feeling a bit sleepy but I'll be okay in about 40 minutes," he said. "It's great to be back in Ireland. I always enjoy coming here and I'm particularly impressed with the way Waterville are honouring Payne Stewart (this was a reference to a special ceremony there tomorrow when a bronze commemorate bust of the deceased player will be unveiled). Payne loved Waterville and Waterville loved Payne."

A few minutes later he drove off the tee at the 375-yard 11th, pulling the shot into trees bordering the left side of the fairway. Ever the perfectionist, he turned away as if to bang the errant club in disgust.

Suddenly, he seemed to remember this was really fun golf. And with that, the clubhead gently caressed the turf.