Wednesday, July 30, 2008

More than 350 members of Congressional Country Club attended a town-hall-style meeting last night at the club to hear Tiger Woods and PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem make formal presentations in support of a proposal to keep the AT&T National, Woods's signature golf tournament, at the Bethesda course from 2012 through 2017.

According to a source who attended the two-hour meeting, Woods spoke to the members in the club's packed ballroom for about five minutes, and also answered members' questions.

He talked about his vision for the tournament and emphasized how much respect he and his fellow players have for the golf course. During a question-and-answer session, he also told the members his surgically repaired left knee is coming along nicely. He walked without crutches or a cane, though he did hobble slightly.

Finchem told the membership how important the tour considers the tournament, but also was noncommittal when asked about possibly moving the date away from July 4 on the schedule the tournament has had in each of its first two years. Congressional has expressed its preference to the tour that future events be played before Memorial Day, in mid- to late-May.

The club's board of directors last month recommended that the tournament be staged at the Blue course for six years. Members will be receiving ballots in the mail over the next week asking them to approve or reject a proposal that calls for an initial three-year deal, with an option for three more years.

A majority of members must approve, and one club source said while there was some vocal opposition during the meeting, he expects that the proposal will be approved. The voting will be completed shortly after Labor Day.

-- Leonard Shapiro