TOUR Insider: Congressional prepares to host U.S. Open
By Stan Awtrey, PGATOUR.COM Correspondent
Take a good look at Congressional Country Club as you play in the AT&T National this week, fellows. Snap a few photos and make some lasting memories. You won't see it this way again.
That's because the USGA chose Congressional to host the 2011 U.S. Open, a few years before Tiger and A&T cooked up their partnership. So the USGA gets nearly two full years to do whatever it deems necessary to host the national championship. That means the AT&T National will have a new home for a couple years.
Congressional, meanwhile, has extended Tiger and the AT&T people a three-year deal for 2012-14, with an additional three-year option on the table. Earlier this spring Tiger Woods said he would like to play the AT&T National at Congressional "as long as they want us." They want him -- who's going to turn down Tiger -- but it will be three years before the World No. 1 and his associates can return.
"It's unfortunate, with the U.S. Open coming here, and we have no choice," Woods said. "We have to go and it's part of what the USGA makes you do. Unfortunately, we have to go, but also, then again, we're going to a great golf course."
In 2010 and 2011 the tournament will move to the Philadelphia area, where it will be hosted by the Donald Ross-designed Aronimink Golf Club, consistently rated among the nation's top 100 golf courses.
"I think the area of Philadelphia will certainly embrace us in what we're trying to do and how many people we can help there in that community," Woods said. "And, also, without neglecting what we're trying to do here in the D.C. area."
Now the question is: What will the USGA do to Congressional?
They won't tamper with the 18th hole, which is one of the toughest finishing holes in professional golf. The par-4 466-yarder is the club's signature hole that gave up only 55 birdies a year ago.
It's a far cry from the original 18th hole, a par 3 that was reversed and converted to the 10th hole when Rees Jones was brought in for a second redesign in 2006. Jones renovated all the greens and regraded nine fairways in 1989. All greens on the course will again be rebuilt to USGA specifications, upon conclusion of this week's event.
"I think the golf course can be in even better shape with the new greens," Woods said.
That should quiet some of the complaints voiced when the U.S. Open was held at Congressional in 1997. A par 3 as a finishing hole provides little excitement. And while a long par 4 isn't liable to give up many birdies, either, at least it requires a player to hit driver under mind-melting Open conditions.
Players are fond of Congressional's layout. It's a parkland style course with more elevation change than you notice on television. It's a tough course -- Tiger likes it that way -- which rewards well-played shots. Players can't scrape it around and expect to contend.
"I like it closer to par, personally, because it requires you to stay in there and hang in there as long as you can, even if you aren't playing well," said defending AT&T National champion Anthony Kim.
Congressional has hosted some memorable events. In 1964 Ken Venturi barely survived oven-like conditions for 36 holes. The fact that Venturi nearly died nudged the USGA's decision to eliminate the traditional 36-hole finale and spread the tournament over four days. Dave Stockton won the PGA Championship at Congressional in 1976 and Ernie Els won his second U.S. Open there in 1997.
Tiger is building relationships to ensure that his tournament will always be welcomed at Congressional. He's reached out to the military. There's talk about building a learning center in the D.C. area. He may even get the President to show up one day.
"We want to be here for years to come, for perpetuity really," Woods said. "Hopefully we can all make that happen."
The AT&T National is off to a good start in terms of producing memorable champions, too. K.J. Choi won the first tournament in 2006 and Kim solidified his position as a rising star by winning in 2007. But what would the tournament really be without a victory by the host? After all, Jack Nicklaus has won the Memorial and Arnold Palmer has won at Bay Hill. Wouldn't Woods be doing the event a disservice to avoid victory lane?
"Hopefully, I can do my part and win the tournament," Woods said.
It would be a fitting way to say adieu until 2012.
Stan Awtrey is a freelance columnist for PGATOUR.COM. His views do not necessarily represent the views of the PGA TOUR.
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