AT&T National host in search of his game
NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. – With all that’s happened in the life of Tiger Woods, it’s hard to think of him as the defending champion of the AT&T National. Was it really just a year ago that he stood on the 18th green at Congressional and jokingly presented the trophy to himself?
Tuesday when Woods arrived at Aronimink Country Club — temporary site of the AT&T National while Congressional receives a facelift in preparation for the 2011 U.S. Open — it was less about him as the defending champion and more about a fallen superstar trying to rediscover his game.
Since turning pro in 1996, Woods has won at least one tournament by May of every year. This year, however, following his tumultuous offseason in the tabloids, Woods has failed to win in five starts.
“Outside the ropes there are certainly still distractions,” Woods said. “I think my life out here on tour is becoming more normalized, getting out here and talking to you guys about the game of golf and why I haven’t won a tournament yet this year or why I hit that shot or this shot, and it wasn’t like that at the beginning of this year.”
With fourth-place finishes in both of this year’s majors, including two weeks ago in the U.S. Open, Woods isn’t that far off. His third-round 66 at Pebble Beach was a vintage performance.
“I think it was even more important to have it happen in a major championship, especially when I needed it,” Woods said. “That was a nice feeling to have something I hadn’t had this year yet.”
Woods was moved by the raucous cheers he heard at Pebble Beach. He received some of the same treatment Tuesday in the Philadelphia suburbs as hundreds of fans watched him play a 9-hole practice round with Arjun Atwal.
“It’s pretty exciting to see the fans out there that are already into it,” Woods said. “The golf course is in phenomenal shape. It’s going to be a great week.”
Woods plays Thursday and Friday with Dustin Johnson and Davis Love III. They will tee off in the afternoon on Thursday and the morning on Friday.
