Yesterday, Tiger Woods confirmed his participation in the inaugural AT&T National tournament, which kicks off Tuesday and runs through July 8. Television executives and ticket holders alike were said to be concerned that the new father (as of Monday) would bow out—a move that the Washington Post gathered would likely have dampened ticket sales and ratings. The number two golfer in the world, Phil Mickelson, also signed on to the tournament on Wednesday, which ESPN.com said was a shock to many, since "no one expected Mickelson ... to be playing so soon after missing the cut at the U.S. Open with his left wrist in a brace."
Woods announced earlier this year that the Tiger Woods Foundation and the PGA Tour had reached a long-term agreement to host the Washington-based tournament in July. In March, AT&T signed on as the title sponsor, and in April the Congressional Country Club in Bethesda was named the host site. A public relations outlet told us this week that tournament director Greg McLaughlin was too busy for an interview, because “we are putting an event on that normally takes an entire year to prepare for in just four months' time.” According to ESPN.com, the Fourth of July week became a vacant spot on the PGA calendar back in February, when the International tournament in Colorado was canceled. "Woods' tournament was created a month later, and it caused a brief stir when the tour said it would be limited to 120 players," the site reported, also stating that Woods joins Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer as the only players to host a PGA Tour event.According to Golf Styles, the AT&T National is exciting for Washington locals for several reasons. For one, the tournament is invitational, so it will be smaller than regular PGA events and will feature five of the world’s six best golfers (Woods, Mickelson, Jim Furyk, Adam Scott, and Vijay Singh). Also playing is Angel Cabrera, the Argentinean golfer who beat Woods by one stroke at the U.S. Open this month. Other highlights include a $6 million purse and public access to the members-only par-72 Congressional Country Club.
While the event will benefit the Tiger Woods Foundation, the U.S. Armed Services is also being honored and celebrated throughout the week. (Woods’s father served in Vietnam.) Thirty thousand complimentary tickets have been given to active military members and military personnel (5,000 for each day), and a special seating section for 300 has been designated near the 16th green, alongside special military-only discounted concessions. A thoughtful touch: Fans attending will have the opportunity to write notes of encouragement on more than 75,000 postcards that will be handed out during the tournament; afterward, the cards will be sent to troops around the world.
Former president George H.W. Bush has signed on to make the ceremonial first putt at the Earl Woods Memorial Pro-Am on July 4, alongside a military band and the Marine Corps silent drill platoon. Some 52 active military members will caddie for the pro players on the 1st and 10th holes during the pro-am, and 22 others will provide player introductions. AT&T is hosting several events during the week especially for military personnel and their families, including a golf clinic with several PGA pros at the Fort Belvoir Golf Course and a private party with the National Concert Band of America on Tuesday.
The Post said McLaughlin estimates that the venue can accommodate as many as 35,000 fans a day, the same number the venue attracted when it last held the U.S. Open, in 1997 (when Woods tied for 19th place). It’s been a decade since the PGA has played in the Washington area.
Woods announced earlier this year that the Tiger Woods Foundation and the PGA Tour had reached a long-term agreement to host the Washington-based tournament in July. In March, AT&T signed on as the title sponsor, and in April the Congressional Country Club in Bethesda was named the host site. A public relations outlet told us this week that tournament director Greg McLaughlin was too busy for an interview, because “we are putting an event on that normally takes an entire year to prepare for in just four months' time.” According to ESPN.com, the Fourth of July week became a vacant spot on the PGA calendar back in February, when the International tournament in Colorado was canceled. "Woods' tournament was created a month later, and it caused a brief stir when the tour said it would be limited to 120 players," the site reported, also stating that Woods joins Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer as the only players to host a PGA Tour event.According to Golf Styles, the AT&T National is exciting for Washington locals for several reasons. For one, the tournament is invitational, so it will be smaller than regular PGA events and will feature five of the world’s six best golfers (Woods, Mickelson, Jim Furyk, Adam Scott, and Vijay Singh). Also playing is Angel Cabrera, the Argentinean golfer who beat Woods by one stroke at the U.S. Open this month. Other highlights include a $6 million purse and public access to the members-only par-72 Congressional Country Club.
While the event will benefit the Tiger Woods Foundation, the U.S. Armed Services is also being honored and celebrated throughout the week. (Woods’s father served in Vietnam.) Thirty thousand complimentary tickets have been given to active military members and military personnel (5,000 for each day), and a special seating section for 300 has been designated near the 16th green, alongside special military-only discounted concessions. A thoughtful touch: Fans attending will have the opportunity to write notes of encouragement on more than 75,000 postcards that will be handed out during the tournament; afterward, the cards will be sent to troops around the world.
Former president George H.W. Bush has signed on to make the ceremonial first putt at the Earl Woods Memorial Pro-Am on July 4, alongside a military band and the Marine Corps silent drill platoon. Some 52 active military members will caddie for the pro players on the 1st and 10th holes during the pro-am, and 22 others will provide player introductions. AT&T is hosting several events during the week especially for military personnel and their families, including a golf clinic with several PGA pros at the Fort Belvoir Golf Course and a private party with the National Concert Band of America on Tuesday.
The Post said McLaughlin estimates that the venue can accommodate as many as 35,000 fans a day, the same number the venue attracted when it last held the U.S. Open, in 1997 (when Woods tied for 19th place). It’s been a decade since the PGA has played in the Washington area.
