The day began with a much ballyhooed matchup between Tiger Woods, the World’s Number One player and winner of 67 PGA TOUR events, and Anthony Kim, the defending champion and winner of just two events. Yet by days end, Tiger had gained complete control and needed just par at the 18th to win the AT&T National, his 68th career PGA TOUR victory. The two enigmatic golfers put on a great show early, as the record crowd and vibe at Congressional was palpable.
When Tiger made birdie on the long par-3 10th, he took a three shot advantage in the tournament, yet a wayward drive at the tumultuous 11th left Woods with a bogey. For the week, the tough par-4 had taken 5 strokes from Woods (bogey, bogey, double bogey, bogey). Soon thereafter, Hunter Mahan reeled off birdies at the 17th and 18th and had tied the lead with a spectacular, course record tying 62.
It was up to Woods from that point on to play 1-under golf from there on out, and that’s exactly what he did. He grabbed the lead for good with a grinding 21-foot birdie on the 16th hole, after an indifferent chip shot left him well short of the hole.
Following an opening round 62, Kim had plenty of opportunities to grab his second straight title in Bethesda, though fought through a case of the lefts off the tee and really didn’t make any putts, after a birdie on the ninth took him back to even on the day. He unceremoniously parred holes 10-17 and was already out of it when he limped in with bogey at the 18th. His post round comments were very poignant, as he said the one thing he learned playing with Tiger was “you gotta make your birdie putts,” A very astute observation, also easier said than done.
Tiger Woods’ 3-under 68 capped a solid week on Congressional’s Blue Course and will serve as a nice memory when he next tackles the course in competition at the 2011 United States Open.
Thumbs up to the Tiger Woods Foundation, Congressional Country Club, the tremendous galleries, oh…and especially mother nature, who graced us with the loveliest week of golf in the Washington, D.C. area that I can remember. High 70’s and Low 80’s are very rare for July in this area, and they are temperatures reserved for only the likes of men like Tiger Woods.
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