Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy tackle Ballybunion in preparation for British Open at St. Andrews

Tiger Woods teed it up this week at the 2022 JP McManus Pro-Am in Ireland, and he continued his major championship preparation at an Irish classic.

Ahead of next week’s 150th British Open at St. Andrews, the three-time Open champion – twice at the Old Course, which Woods claims to be his favorite in golf – played a round alongside good friend Rory McIlroy on Thursday at Ballybunion.

The Old Course at Ballybunion sits at No. 7 on Golfweek’s Best list of classic courses in Great Britain and Ireland and is the highest-rated Irish course on the list (not counting No. 1 Royal County Down and No. 5 Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland).

“This is a pretty historical Open we are going to be playing. I’m lucky enough to be part of the past champions who have won there and want to play there again,” said Woods of the Open at St. Andrews. “I don’t know when they are ever going to go back while I’m still able to play at a high level. And I want to be able to give it at least one more run at a high level.”