The Golf Watch

Pictures from Congressional

Inside the ropes at Congressional Country Club for the ceremonial tee shot.  I was impressed by how many people were on hand at the "Tiger-less" tournament.  Especially pro-am day...

This year, the length of the rough has been taken down a notch.  Below is Anthony Kim's ball in the primary rough to the left of the 3rd fairway.

Inside these doors, the drug testing begins.  First up, Tim Finchem...(British Amateur champ Drew Weaver talking on cell phone)

The media center was empty earlier in the day, but it got busier as the day progressed.

Tiger complained last year about the speed of the greens and that problem has been addressed.  I lost track of the number of balls I saw roll past the hole.

Longtime ESPN anchor Stuart Scott had a rough start to his day when he popped/sliced his first tee shot.  By my estimation, it only went about 100 yards.  Nevertheless, I caught back up with him on nine, and he sank a pretty long putt.  No clue what it was for though...

The 10th hole, a picturesque par-3 that was added for last year's tournament.  The tee box on 10 is essentially where the old 18th green once was. 

   

This shot says it all...the beauty that is Congressional.

AT&T National field less than stellar

I'm shocked.  Last year, the AT&T National at Congressional got some of the best players in the game including Phil Mickelson, Adam Scott, Vijay Singh, Geoff Ogilvy, and Justin Rose.  This year, none of those players are coming back.  In fact, there is only one top-10 player in the world ranking who is competing next week, Steve Stricker.

I have no explanation for this.  Congressional is a true test and will host the U.S. Open in three years. The tournament falls out the same time it did last year, two weeks before the British Open.  Plus, there's a big purse and Tiger Woods is the host. 

There's still no word as to whether or not Woods will be able to make it up to the district for the week, but he must be disappointed with the quality of the field.  This is the kind of field one would expect at the old Booz Allen at Avenel. 

Tiger appearance still uncertain for AT&T

Leonard Shapiro of The Washington Post offers the latest news on Tiger Woods--and it's not much.  There's still no word as to whether or not Tiger will be able to attend his own tournament at Congressional.

Regardless, I will be at Congressional doing some reporting for my paper, and will be sure to give some course setup updates and tournament day recaps as the week progresses.

Will $25 million renovations to Avenel make a difference?

Just as he did last year, Tiger Woods will hold a news conference today in promotion of the AT&T National, which will take place in early July at Congressional.  Because the '09 U.S. Amateur was moved to Southern Hills, the AT&T will be held at Congressional for the next two years.  But what will happen in 2010 and 2011? 

In a story from Joe Logan two months ago in the Philadelphia Inquirer, Aronimink Golf Club has generated some interest among tournament officials for the two-year stint.  But staying in the Washington D.C. area seems to be what Tiger prefers, and that is why TPC Avenel has come up time and time again as the most logical option.

Avenel, which is being re-named TPC Potomac at Avenel Farms, is undergoing a $25 million renovation, and is less than a mile away from Congressional (literally, a 10-minute walk).  You have to believe that Tim Finchem and the PGA Tour are crossing their fingers that Woods' camp will select their course as the site for the AT&T.  As Leonard Shapiro of The Washington Post wrote earlier today:

PGA Tour officials say they are putting no pressure on Woods to hold his tournament at their golf course, which is scheduled to reopen in November with a new look as well as a new name, TPC Potomac at Avenel Farms. But after investing so much in the renovation, the tour clearly has high-level tournament golf very much in mind.

It's clear that the players looked at Avenel unfavorably.  But minus a few weak holes, Avenel is just as well suited for hosting a big tournament as Congressional is.  As a fan, Avenel's stadium course is a much better option than Congressional, where following one of the bigger name groups is nearly impossible.  Yes, Avenel will never match up to Congressional in prestige and course layout.  But it certainly can accomodate a big tournament like the AT&T for two years.      

Speculation brews over tournament site of AT&T National in 2010, '11

It was reported two weeks ago by Leonard Shapiro of The Washington Post that Congressional Country Club (pictured right) in Washington D.C. would in fact host the AT&T National in 2009.  The club's members voted in favor of hosting Tiger's tournament in two years rather than the U.S. Amateur, which as a result, has been moved to Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa. 

But many are still wondering where the tournament will head in 2010 and 2011.  Congressional plays host to the 2011 US Open, and there will be a major restoration of the greens the year prior.  Several courses that are believed to be contenders for the two year stint include Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Northern Virginia, Caves Valley Golf Club in Owings Mills, MD, and now, Aronimink Golf Club (pictured below) in Newton Square, Pennsylvania, according to Joe Logan of The Philadelphia Inquirer:

This much is known: There is enough interest that representatives from the tournament visited Aronimink several months ago to scope out the course.

The club also brought in one of course designer Tom Fazio's top guys to determine how much the 7,152-yard, par-70 layout could be stretched, if needed. (Answer: 7,500 yards).

Then, in December, representatives from Aronimink flew to the Target World Challenge in California, another Woods event, where they met with AT&T National officials and Woods himself.

Why move the tournament out of the Washington area for 2011 in the first place?

Because Washington might not be big enough for a U.S. Open in mid-June and the AT&T three weeks later. A U.S Open tends to overshadow everything else, not to mention suck up the corporate sponsorship money.

Logan makes some good observations, and there are plenty of ways to connect the 4th of July to the city of Philadelphia.

Woods asks Congressional members to host AT&T National in '09

According to Leonard Shapiro of The Washington Post, members of Congressional Country Club will meet Tuesday, October 30 to discuss whether or not Tiger Woods will be able to keep his tournament, the AT&T National, at Congressional Country Club's Blue Course until 2009.  Woods and his foundation signed a two-year deal to play the AT&T National at Congressional, but with the USGA moving the 2009 US Amateur from Congressional to Southern Hills, Woods has asked club members for another year.  Shapiro adds, "The USGA also wants Congressional, the site for the 2011 U.S. Open, to redo all 18 greens on the Blue Course, the main reason the Amateur was shifted to Oklahoma. The renovation of the greens also will be discussed at the Oct. 30 meeting, and members will vote by mail on whether to approve that project and the additional year for Woods's event."  Club sources expect the deal to be approved.   

Analysts and players call Woods' tournament a success

K.J. Choi won the inaugural AT&T National hosted by Tiger Woods at Congressional Country Club yesterday, and analysts and players are calling the tournament a success.  Golf World Senior writer Tim Rosaforte said last night on The Golf Channel, "It’s been a home run from start to finish and they’re really going to build on it from here."  Michael Wilbon wrote in The Washington Post, "The AT&T National could very well become as important to the culture of professional golf as Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill and Jack Nicklaus's Memorial have been for years."  David Steele wrote in the Baltimore Sun, "Woods could do this every year and it would be the sensation of the sport, a fifth major to surpass the tourney that already has that unofficial title (the Players Championship)."  Rich Beem had originally criticized Woods' tournament because of the reduced size of the field, but at the end of the week, Beem said, "He put on one helluva event this week."

Choi captures second PGA Tour event in '07

K.J. Choi fought off a handful of golfers Sunday including Stuart Appleby, Steve Stricker, Jim Furyk, and Mike Weir to capture his second tour event in 2007, the AT&T National, hosted by Tiger Woods.  Choi fired a 2-under 68 that included a holed bunker shot on the par-4 17th, ensuring his victory.  "This is a breakout moment for K.J. Choi, and a breakout year for K.J. Choi," said Tim Rosaforte during the Sprint Post Game.  Choi is now a 6-time winner on the PGA Tour, including a win earlier this year at the Memorial. 

Star-studded leaderboard after first round of AT&T

Four of the top-30 players in the world lead after the first round of the AT&T National at Congressional Country Club.  Jim Furyk (3), Vijay Singh (6), K.J. Choi (20), and Stuart Appleby (28) all fired 4-under 66's Thursday, along with Joe Ogilvie.  Not far behind is crowd favorite Fred Funk, who fired a 3-under 67.  Funk coached the golf team at the University of Maryland in nearby College Park before he played on tour. 

Club President says Congressional will play similar to major championship layout

On Washington Post Live, the President of Congressional Country Club, Stuart Long, said that this year's AT&T National will be similar to a major championship test.  "It is awfully similar.  We are going to make some changes.  We are going to lengthen the course over the next two years for the U.S. Open.  But the rough is very similar to the U.S. Open rough, the greens are getting faster every day," said Long, who added that he expected the winning score to be between 6 and 8-under par.  Tiger Woods said in an interview on Tuesday with Chick Hernandez and Gary Williams of Comcast Sportsnet that the rough is cut at 4 ½ inches, and landing in it would be a half shot penalty.  Woods suggests that the greens will not be "ultra quick", but the real test will be keeping the ball in play.