JP McManus Pro-Am: Tiger Woods struggles to opening 77 as Xander Schauffele leads at Adare Manor | Golf News

Schauffele’s course-record 64 set the pace in an event featuring ten of the world’s top 12 players; Rory McIlroy seven behind while Tiger Woods tied-43rd after the opening day – watch the final round live on Tuesday from 2pm on Sky Sports Golf

Xander Schauffele takes a three-shot lead into the final round of the JP McManus Pro-Am, while Tiger Woods struggled in his return to action at Adare Manor.

Schauffele fired eight birdies in a brilliant bogey-free start to the 36-hole contest, raising money for charities in Ireland, with an eight-under 64 giving him a commanding advantage in the star-studded event.

The Olympic gold medallist’s closest challenge comes from Rickie Fowler, who opened with a bogey-free 67, while England’s Tyrrell Hatton sits four strokes back in third ahead of the group on three under that contains Irish duo Shane Lowry and Seamus Power.

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Shane Lowry experienced a moment to forget on the fifth hole, making bogey after three-putting from just four feet.

Rory McIlroy carded a first-round 71, while Woods marked his first competitive appearance since withdrawing from May’s PGA Championship by stuttering to a five-over 77.

Woods, who used a golf cart to move between holes as he continues to struggle with the injuries sustained in last February’s car crash, double-bogeyed the par-four second and followed another dropped shot at the fifth by posting successive bogeys from the eighth to close a front-nine 41.

The former world No 1 saw a birdie at the tenth cancelled out with a dropped shot at the next, while a brilliant chip-in eagle from off the 12th green was undone by bogeys at the 13th and 17th to leave him 13 strokes behind Schauffele.

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Tiger Woods sent the Irish crowds into a frenzy with his chip-in eagle at the par-five 12th

Beginning on the back nine, Schauffele followed successive birdies from the 12th by taking advantage of the par-five 18th to reach the turn in 33, before making further gains at the first and third.

Schauffele continued his birdie barrage with a hat-trick of gains from the fifth, with pars over the closing two holes seeing him close out a blemish-free opening round and setting the Adare Manor course record.

More to follow…