PGA Tour returns with AT&T National sans Tiger Woods
PGA Tour is all set to swing back in action with AT&T National scheduled this week at the Aronimink Golf Club, Newtown Square, Philadelphia. This is the second time Aronimink will be hosting the AT&T National after the event was held successfully for the
first time at the same venue.
The course is notoriously famous for being one of the most difficult par-70 courses on the tour and recorded a birdie average of 2.73 last year. The total yardage can be extended to 7, 237 yards and given its stroke per player average of 71.218 in 2010,
it turned out to be the second most difficult course of the 14, par-70 on the tour.
"The course is good enough that they don't need to do anything," course superintendent John Gosselin told the Philadelphia Inquirer. "[The PGA TOUR likes] coming to these older courses. The greens have got lots of movement, and it makes your job more interesting.
So they don't feel a need. They haven't asked for anything."
Many of the big wigs of the sport will be returning to pitch for yet another battle to clinch the top slot at the lucrative $6.2-million title. Tiger Woods, who is the major beneficiary of the event, as most of the earnings are directed to Tiger Woods foundation,
will be present as the host of the event but will not be participating as one of the contenders.
Woods is still recovering from a severe ligament fracture in his left knee which has already undergone four wide open surgeries. The 14-major champion has decided to pay heed to his doctor’s suggestion to completely lay back from his sports liabilities for
a durable recovery.
Most of the winners for the season will be returning to flex their muscles for another victory on the tour. Players like Mark Wilson, K.J.Choi, Jhonattan Vegas, D.A. Points, Johnson Wagner, Michael Bradley, Nick Watney, Gary Woodland, Lucas Glover, Keegan
Bradley, and Harrison Frazar have all won a tournament in the current year.
Wilson is perhaps in the best days of his career and has already won twice on the tour this year. He lifted the season opening title at Sony Open in Hawaii and also Waste management Phoenix Open.
Choi, the winner of the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass, will be eyeing another title on the tour before the tour finally moves towards its end. Fredrik Jacobson, winner of the last week’s Travelers Championship has decided to stay away for the moment,
probably enjoying the returns of his long overdue win.
The young guns participating in the event will be given a tough run for their money by many of the grizzled veterans, who are also the part of the field. No less than eleven major winners including Vijay Singh and the Hall of Famer Ernie Els, both having
won three majors in their careers, will be hoping to break their long winless streaks.
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