Tour Won't Object to Temporary Move

By Leonard Shapiro
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, July 3, 2008

PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem said yesterday he would have no objections if the AT&T National moved out of the Washington area for 2010 and 2011, when Congressional Country Club will not be available for Tiger Woods's signature event.

Finchem said that from the standpoint of the Tiger Woods Foundation, which runs the tournament and is the primary charitable beneficiary, "they may very well conclude that a venue outside of this market makes sense for one or both of those years. We wouldn't argue with that and would say that probably makes the most sense at this point. But they are taking the lead, and we are being supportive."

The tournament will be played again at Congressional in 2009 and is expected to return to the Bethesda course starting in 2012. Members will begin voting this month on a recommendation from the Congressional board that the club sign a three-year contract, with a three-year option to keep the event at the course from 2012 at least through 2017.

In 2010, the Blue Course will undergo a major renovation of all 18 greens in preparation for the 2011 U.S. Open. The Woods foundation has been visiting a number of courses in the Washington area and also has looked at Aronimink Golf Club outside Philadelphia for one or both of those years. But tournament director Greg McLaughlin said this week he also will scout courses in markets such as Baltimore, Minneapolis and St. Louis, and no decision is imminent.

Finchem also said yesterday he did not believe the tour-owned TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm a mile down the road will be ready to host a tour event in 2010 or 2011. The course and clubhouse are in the midst of a $25 million renovation scheduled to be completed in November.

"Our golf course down the street is torn up; it's not done," Finchem said. "I think we learned our lesson in 1985-86 that you don't move a golf tournament to a golf course before you're finished, or before it's done. It just doesn't make any sense."

Finchem was in town yesterday to attend the opening ceremonies for the tournament, which included a spectacular parachute landing on the first fairway by members of the Army's 101st Airborne Division "Screaming Eagles."

Fred Couples hit the ceremonial first ball, filling in for injured tournament host Woods, who is recovering from knee surgery in Orlando.

A Pair of Hokies

Drew Weaver walked onto the driving range, put down his equipment and then started talking. Weaver, an amateur golfer attending Virginia Tech, set up next to fellow Hokie and PGA Tour professional Johnson Wagner, so practice was delayed. There was plenty of catching up to do.

Wagner had heard of a promising younger golfer on his alma mater's team, but it wasn't until the Virginia Tech football game against East Carolina last fall that they got in touch. The two have since had competed together -- they have played practice rounds or hit balls at the driving range -- at the Masters and the Memorial. This week's AT&T National marks Weaver's third professional event.

"It still continues to be a dream come true," said Weaver's father, John.

Weaver missed the cut at both professional events he has entered but remains an attractive draw because of his local ties and for having won the British Amateur last summer. He will be a senior at Virginia Tech and hopes to turn pro next year, meaning Wagner will earn a regular playing buddy on tour.

"It means a lot to have another guy from Virginia Tech out here, especially a younger guy I can boss around a little bit and tell what to do," Wagner said. "No, it's great, it's great. I hope to see him out here full time soon."

Signs of the Times

Danny Yeargin and Tyler Heslop scouted the practice greens, stalking their next catch. The two autograph seekers carried plastic bags with memorabilia scribbled with signatures, and they weren't satisfied yet.

"Practice rounds definitely help," Yeargin said. "Just standing off a green, you can usually get a decent amount."

By mid-afternoon, they had found success. They had gained the signatures of tour pros Anthony Kim and J.B. Holmes, among others. They said hanging around greens and driving ranges eventually brings results. Lesser-known players are more likely to play along, but that doesn't keep them from stalking the largest of prizes.

"Tiger Woods is hard," Heslop said, "but he's not here."

The two friends have made this a habit. This spring, Heslop and Yeargin graduated from Fredericksburg's Riverbend High School. They travel to tournaments around the country.

Stops have included the Masters and Heritage, and the Ryder Cup is in their plans.

They plan to stay for the weekend. They will serve as tournament volunteers when they put down their pens.

"We got off pretty well," Yeargin said. "We got a lot of autographs, it seems like."

Staff writers Mark Viera and Andrew Astleford contributed to this report.