PICTURES: Ireland's sporting elite show off their golfing skills at Irish Open Pro-Am

Ahead of the Amgen Irish open which tees off at the K Club on Thursday, a host of celebrities, sports stars and personalities showcased their golf skills at the pre-tournament Pro-Am.

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The Amgen Irish open returns this week marking one of the premium events on the Irish sporting calendar.

Some of the best players in the Word will make the journey to County Kildare to compete in Ireland's showpiece golf tournament. 

It will take place in the K Club in County Kildare from Thursday, September 4 to Sunday, September 7. it will be the third edition of the Irish open to be played at the K Club Golf Course.

There will be eleven Irish golfers playing the event this year headlined by three former winners. Rory McIlroy won the Irish Open when it was first held at the K Club in dominant fashion in 2016, Shane Lowry burst on the golfing scene as an amateur with his 2009 Irish Open win in County Louth Golf Club and Padraig Harrington won the tournament in 2007 in Adare Manor.

Other Irish golfers that will be playing this weekend include Seamus Power, Conor Purcell, Max Kennedy, Mark Power, Alex Maguire, Alex Moran, Tom McKibbin and amateur John Doyle who will all be hoping to make an impression in front of the home crowd. 

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There's a very strong field of players this year at the K Club. Five-time major winner Brooks Koepka will be playing in the tournament for the first time. He will be joined by 2018 Open championship winner Francesco Molinari, 2018 Masters Champion Patrick Reed, 2016 Masters champion Danny Willett and Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald amongst others.

A host of celebrities, sports stars and personalities showcased their golf skills at the K Club on Wednesday. 

Irish Rugby trio Johnny Sexton, Josh Van Der Flier and Dan Sheehan teed off together. Ronan Maher, Paudie Clifford and David Clifford swapped GAA for golf for the day to participate in a group together with family bragging rights on the line for the Clifford's in Kildare. 

Former Ireland Rugby player and TV presenter Tommy Bowe also featured amongst others. The pictures show the best of the action from the pro-am before the Irish open begins on Thursday morning.