Tiger Woods thanked Ireland yesterday - for helping him win the Open.

"Coming here has been instrumental in preparing for the British Open, not only for getting adjusted for the time difference but also for getting used to playing links golf," he said.

"Obviously it's a different type of golf and we've played Portmarnock just about every year and Royal County Down just about ever year. Sometimes we'll go down and play Ballybunion."

The world number one has been coming here since 1998 when he was invited over by multi-millionaire businessmen JP McManus and Dermot Desmond.

Woods went on to capture the Open in sensational style at St Andrews in 2000, winning by eight shots from Thomas Bjorn and Ernie Els.

With the likes of the late Payne Stewart, Mark O'Meara, Scott McCarron and Lee Janzen, Woods has combined golf and fishing with trips to Portmarnock, Royal County Down and Waterville.

"It's been so much fin to play these type of golf courses and we play in all different types of weather which certainly makes it interesting."

The Irish weather has also help Woods to shrped his links game before his annual appearance at the Open.

For instance, the world number one has driven the 388-yard first hole at Portmarnock but last year had to hit a driver and a four iron.

"It's the weather and it's a lot of fun to play that type of golf and I think it's instrumental in my preparation for the Open championship," he explained

Woods was back in Ireland in 2000 to help McManus raise money for charity in a star studded pro-am at Limerick golf club and he hasn't stopped coming back.

At the Limerick event, a host of top stars including David Duval and O'Meara and gave their services for free to raise money for several Irish charities.

And Woods has been happy to help because he loves Ireland so much.

He added: "I had such a great time in Ireland that I've been coming over ever since. I loved fishing here and I loved hanging out at the pubs.

"The Irish people have actually been wonderful and it's a place that I thoroughly enjoy. I never played here competitively until this week and it's going to be a lot of fun."

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© Brian Keogh 2003

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