Can you imagine Tiger, in his dotage, holding court on the vast Congressional clubhouse veranda shaking hands with the stars of the future, like Byron Nelson did for so many years? Sure. Can you see it at Avenel? Ask the Magic 8-Ball.
The date is also a secondary, though real, concern. The tie-in with July Fourth ideally suits Woods' commitment to honoring the military. However, July in Washington is abysmal, and all the White House dinners in the world won't change that. Plus, it comes at the height of the European Tour season and opposite one of that tour's best events, the Smurfit Kappa European Open. Woods will want all the world's players, not just the Americans.
There is no question, this was a wonderful beginning. But, making AT&T National into a legacy event is far from a foregone conclusion, though the prestige of, and respect for, the only guy currently playing who's in the running for the title, "Best Golfer Ever to Walk the Earth," is a powerful plus. No one has made a living underestimating what Woods can do.
His Hostness can also take some comfort in the fact Nicklaus didn't win the first Memorial, either. Of course, he did win the second. But then, what are the chances Tiger doesn't have that taped to the wall?
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