Hurling legend DJ Carey, former Ireland rugby captain Keith Wood, and former Chelsea and Italy footballer Gianfranco Zola are three of the many personalities from the world of sport lined up to compete in the star-studded Pro-Am preceding this week’s Smurfit Kappa European Open at The K Club.

The Pro-Am tournament will take place on Wednesday July 4 and with free attendance offered to all spectators that day, huge crowds are expected to flock to the Straffan venue which staged Europe’s record-equalling Ryder Cup victory over the United States last September.

Denis Joseph Carey, known throughout Ireland as simply DJ, is widely recognised as one of the greatest exponents of hurling the game has ever known. He played for Kilkenny from 1990 to 2005 before retiring and will be making a welcome return to the Smurfit Kappa European Open Pro-Am.

Keith Wood has competed in several Pro-Ams over the years and utilises the same competitive spirit in them which saw him win 58 caps for Ireland and appear twice for the Lions. Nicknamed ‘The Raging Potato’ because of his bald head and combative style, Wood was inducted into the Rugby Hall of Fame in 2005 and his 15 full international tries are still a record for a hooker.

One personality making his debut at The K Club is Gianfranco Zola and the diminutive Italian, whose sublime skills saw him voted the Football Writers’ Player of Year in 1997 during his time with Chelsea, is set to enjoy the week more than most as it is his 41st birthday the following day, Thursday July 5.

“Since retiring from football I have become mad about golf and so I am really looking forward to playing at The K Club for the first time,” he said. “I watched The Ryder Cup last year and it looks a great course and I can’t wait to see how I play there in front of the fantastic Irish golf fans.

“It will be a big day for me and it would be wonderful if I could win the Pro-Am – that would be the perfect birthday present to give myself for Thursday!”

Another Italian football personality appearing at The K Club for the first time is head coach of the Italian football team, Roberto Donadoni, who succeeded Marcello Lippi, the manager who guided Italy to World Cup success in Germany in 2006.

A pillar of the powerhouse AC Milan teams of the late 1980s and the early 1990s, Donadoni was a vital cog in a side which won five Serie A titles, three European Cups, three European Super Cups and two Intercontinental Cups. He also played 63 times for Italy, scoring five goals.

Also competing in the Pro-Am are Niall Quinn, former Ireland football international and now chairman of Sunderland Football Club, and Eddie Jordan, the founder and former owner of Jordan Grand Prix, a Formula One constructor which operated from 1991 to 2005.

Spectators can not only enjoy free entry to Wednesday’s Pro-Am as, thanks to the continued generosity of Ulster Bank and their ‘Free Ticket Thursday’ offer, there is no admission charge to Thursday’s first day’s play either.

Last year was the first time any Irish based professional golf tournament offered such a day to the public and the ‘Free Ticket Thursday’ initiative turned out to be a huge success with over 29,000 availing of the offer. This year it is poised to be even better with 36,000 free tickets already having been snapped up.

Jamie Birkmyre, Managing Director of the European Open Golf Championship, said: “The excitement and anticipation surrounding this year’s Smurfit Kappa European Open is growing every day. Last year was fantastic but this year is shaping up to surpass even that.

“We cannot thank Ulster Bank enough for their involvement with ‘Free Ticket Thursday’ and, added to the free admission on Wednesday to see many of Ireland and Europe’s favourite sporting sons playing alongside the cream of the European Tour golfing talent, the Irish public are in for a real treat at The K Club this week.”

Defending champion at The K Club will be Welshman Stephen Dodd but leading the impressive field aiming to follow in his footsteps is recently crowned US Open Champion Angel Cabrera who will be looking to become – after Michael Campbell and Retief Goosen – the third US Open Champion to lift the Smurfit Kappa European Open title.

Admission tickets to The K Club for second round play on Friday, third round play on Saturday and fourth round play on Sunday will be available at the gate.

For further information, contact
Communications Division
The European Tour
Tel: +44 (0) 1344 840400
Fax: +44 (0) 1344 840444
Email: media@europeantour.com