TIGER WOODS' chances to play in the Open next week are slim after he had to use a buggy upon his return from the game.

Woods grimaced and hobbled as he got out of his golf cart to hit every shot at the JP McManus Pro-Am in Ireland.

He was making his first public appearance since May's USPGA Championship, when he was forced to leave the tournament after a third round of 79.

Woods, 46, was unable to attend the US Open last month due to his ongoing rehabilitation following the horrific injuries sustained in a 17-month-old car accident.

After crashing through a barrier, rolling his car several times and losing his right leg, the 15-time Major champion said he was fortunate not to have lost it.

He made a remarkable return to golf at April's Masters, where he made the cut. British fans immediately promised that they would see him at St Andrews for his historic 150th Open.

Woods won two of three Claret Jug victories at St Andrews in 2000 and 2005. He says that it is his favorite course in the entire world.

Woods, despite the fact that he used a buggy as a precautionary measure, has never shown weakness to the public.

You had to sympathize with the Smurfits, former owners of the Ryder Cup venue, K Club in 2006, after they paid an estimated one million euros to play alongside Tiger at the charity fund-raiser.

They were limited to bantering around the greens with Woods making putts and encouraging others.

Woods arrived at Adare Manor, the venue for 2027 Ryder Cup in style. He flew in from Florida and touched down in a helicopter.

He was the star attraction, despite being the host of nine of the best ten players worldwide.

The World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler surveyed the crowd of 40,000 and said: "There are way more people than I expected."

"I think some guy named Tiger might be playing."

The Woods' group attracted more people than Scheffler or Rory McIlroy (world No 2), who are usually the most popular in these parts.

However, he doesn't look any different in the second round of today's 36-hole event. It seems unlikely that the record 290,00 people who purchased tickets to St Andrews will be able to see him in action.