Tiger Woods, adding to his amazing golf legacy, announced
details here on Wednesday about his new US PGA invitational event,
one the superstar hopes will extend his charity work to global
levels.
The National, with a $6 million purse, will be played July 5-8,
most likely at Congressional Country Club, host of the 1997 US
Open. The Tiger Woods Foundation will organize the event and serve
as the benefit charity.
"This is a dream come true," Woods said. "It's something that
happened so quickly. It's something I wanted to have the
opportunity to do one day. I'm lucky enough to do it during my
playing career.
"I've never been this busy."
Woods lammented that his father Earl, who died last May of
cancer, was unable to see this element of his dream for his son's
legacy become reality.
"My goal one day in my future was to host an event on the PGA
Tour. This is a pretty momentous occasion. I just wish my father
could have been here to see it. It was a dream he wanted for us,"
Woods said.
"We thought it was the best platform to grow awareness for what
we're trying to do with the foundation. We believe it's the
springboard to go global."
The National will be staged over the July 4 Independence Day
holiday weekend each year, placing it in a prime spot two weeks
before the British Open, and feature an invitational field, likely
with more than 100 top golfers.
"It was a no-brainer with my father having served in the
nation's military forces," Woods said, noting his father's Green
Beret duty in the Vietnam War.
Woods plans to play the National every year but might not tee
off this July because that is when his wife Elin is expecting the
birth of their first child.
"I plan on playing," Woods said. "A lot of that is dependent on
the birth of our child. Obviously that's the most important thing
in our lives right now. It's my intention to play. You will have to
take that up with Elin."
The National replaces The International on the US PGA calendar.
The Colorado event folded last month for lack of a sponsor.
Finding sponsors for the many US events where Woods does not
play has become tougher in recent years. Woods played in only the
minimum 15 events last year after a career-high 21 in 2005.
The National will take one more bite out of his schedule and
Woods gave no hint he will play more events, adding to the strain
for directors of othe events.
"I play a pretty limited schedule. My focus is to win the
tournaments I play. That takes a lot of energy," Woods said. "We're
excited about doing something in the DC area. That's our main focus
right now."
Woods similarly dismissed notions that he should become more
politically active even as he prepared to meet with US
lawmakers.
"I don't know what the future will bring after my playing days,"
Woods said. "Right now I have my hands full putting the little
white ball in the hole."
Woods also anounced plans to establish a Tiger Woods Learning
Center in Washington similar to one he has opened in Southern
California.
"Our impact, I think, will be pretty significant," Woods said.
"It gives the love and support. I always have love to go home to.
Not everyone has that."
US PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem was confident that a vote
later this month by Congressional board members will bring final
approval to host the National but noted there are alternatives if
needed.
"We feel very comfortable about the way it's going," Finchem
said. "The energy at Congressional is very positive. We have an
awful lot of work to do in a very short time."
Finchem compared Woods' event to similar ones hosted by retired
legends Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer, predicting it will be "one
of the most prestigous events in golf."
"Tiger Woods is not just a great competitor. He has changed the
face of golf," Finmchem said. "He has that same amount of fire,
drive, focus and commitment to making this tournament as good as it
can be."
(China Daily via AFP?March 9, 2007)
