Woods And McIlroy Play Ballybunion In Open Championship Tune-Up
The pair were on-site at the famous Ballybunion Golf Club in preparation for next week's 150th Open


Thank you for signing up to Golf Monthly. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
Tiger Woods has been tracked down in Ireland after refusing to tell the media where he was planning to practise his links golf ahead of next week's 150th Open.
"I am," Woods confirmed if he was planning to remain in Ireland following the JP McManus Pro-Am before denying to tell media where he was heading. "No, I don't want to tell you because I don't want everyone coming down and watching us," he said.
Good thinking from Woods who was followed by a helicopter earlier this year when scouting out Southern Hills ahead of the PGA Championship.
Well, the 15-time Major winner was spotted playing Ballybunion on the west coast along with four-time Major winner Rory McIlroy. The two friends and Florida residents have skipped this week's Scottish Open at the Renaissance Club, with McIlroy not being a fan of the course and Woods currently still playing a Majors-only schedule following his car accident in February 2021.
Images emerged on social media of the pair playing one of the best golf courses in Ireland on Tuesday after apparently arriving by helicopter courtesy of JP McManus. Woods has always tended to tune up his links game in Ireland ahead of Open week and this year looks to be no exception.
They're not the only tour pros to have visited Ballybunion over the last week, with Scottie Scheffler, Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler all playing the course, as well as Lahinch, prior to the JP McManus Pro-Am.
Social media coverage of Woods and McIlroy at Ballybunion:
🚨#NEW: Tiger Woods & Rory McIlroy getting in practice earlier today at Ballybunion, a top links course in west Ireland (📸: @efitz6)@rory_fans pic.twitter.com/F59pAOKANJJuly 7, 2022
Woods playing Ballybunion today with McIlroy pic.twitter.com/cl7i4MNBeWJuly 7, 2022
Rory and Tiger are playing Ballybunion together today in Ireland 🇮🇪 pic.twitter.com/QnQICKQShxJuly 7, 2022
🚨More photos of Tiger & Rory today, via Facebook. @rory_fans pic.twitter.com/UyT8FkKl2iJuly 7, 2022
It was a circus at Ballybunion as Tiger made his way around the golf course 😂 pic.twitter.com/coOJSF0JGPJuly 7, 2022
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Tips on how to play better, latest equipment reviews, interviews with the biggest names and more.

Elliott Heath is our Senior Staff Writer and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news, features, courses and travel sections as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as four Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays at West Byfleet Golf Club in Surrey, where his handicap index floats anywhere between 2-5. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!
Elliott is currently playing:
Driver: Titleist TSR4
3 wood: TaylorMade SIM2 Max
Hybrid: TaylorMade SIM Max
Irons: Mizuno MP5 4-PW
Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5
Ball: TaylorMade TP5x
-
-
Ryder Cup Betting Picks and Predictions
This week we head to Rome, Italy, for the Ryder Cup. OddsChecker's golf handicapper and expert Andy Lack gives us his best picks for the 2023 Ryder Cup.
By Andy Lack Published
-
Ryder Cup Schedule And Tee Times
The key schedule and tee time details for the 44th edition of the Ryder Cup at Marco Simone
By Mike Hall Published
-
WATCH: McIlroy Makes Remarkable Birdie To Take Share Of The Lead At BMW Championship
Rory McIlroy barely hit a fairway on day one at Olympia Fields but that didn't stop him opening up with a 65
By Mark Townsend Published
-
Rory McIlroy Needs His Absolute 'A' Game To Win Majors - Harrington
Padraig Harrington explained that Rory McIlroy will need to have his overall game in place if he is to break his Major duck
By Mark Townsend Published
-
'He's One Of The Best There Is' - Ryder Cup Captain Zach Johnson Hopeful Justin Thomas Can Turn His Game Around
US Ryder Cup skipper Zach Johnson is not unduly worried by Justin Thomas' dip in results this year
By Mark Townsend Published
-
McIlroy Battles Back For Level-Par Start At Royal Liverpool
Rory McIlroy's spectacular par save at the last meant that he would finish day one just five off the lead at The Open
By Mark Townsend Published
-
Scottie Scheffler Turns To YouTube In Bid To Tame Hoylake
This is just Scottie Scheffler's third Open and his first visit to Royal Liverpool and the World No. 1 has gone online as part of his prep
By Mark Townsend Published
-
'It's A Good First Step' - McIlroy Gives Update On Garcia Friendship
McIlroy and Garcia's relationship completely broke down following the inception of LIV Golf
By Andrew Wright Published
-
MacIntyre Left 'Absolutely Gutted' But Near Miss In Scotland Boosts Ryder Cup Hopes
Robert MacIntyre was "gutted" to miss out on the Scottish Open, but his performance was a big boost to his Open and Ryder Cup chances
By Paul Higham Published
-
'Best Shot I've Hit All Year' - McIlroy On Epic Scottish Open 2-Iron
McIlroy sealed his first win in the Home of Golf in style with one of the best shots of his career
By Andrew Wright Published