Swengali: Tiger Phones In Role as Host

BACK WHEN THE Kemper Open/Booz Allen Classic was the big show in town, the reason given for the lackluster field was that all the top golfers preferred to play at Congressional over host Avenel.

What's their excuse this year?

The most famous person I saw in Bethesda Saturday afternoon was Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who has having a good old time on the first of a caravan of carts going around the course.

Meanwhile, somewhere in Florida, Tiger Woods was probably embarrassed his name was on the event.

Nothing about the weekend said this was a top-tier tournament — and area residents responded by not buying tickets.

Sales dropped 24 percent this year over last year's inaugural AT&T National. Woods' being forced to his couch after knee surgery certainly had a lot to do with it.

I am just left wondering where Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, Sergio Garcia and the like were. They led the field at Congressional three years ago at the Tiger-less Booz Allen Classic.

Does this mean that having Congressional available each PGA season has taken some luster away from the prestigious course? Or does no one want to play in Tiger’s tournament if he isn’t there?

Being in Bethesda would have been a nice touch for Woods. At the very least, he could have picked up his phone to ensure a stellar field.

Woods is the greatest golfer there is, but he has a long way to go as a host.

Photo by Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post