Maginnes: Thoughts on Tiger, Rocco and U.S. golfers
By John Maginnes, PGATOUR.com Contributor
BETHESDA, Md. -- Congressional Country Club, which is unquestionably the most American golf club in the country, is hosting Tiger's event, the AT&T National, this week.
In addition to a who's-who-of-the-beltway list of members, Congressional boasts six Commander in Chiefs in its storied history. Not real sure where Fluff Cowan fits in, but Jim Furyk's caddy is a member there, too.
So why hasn't an American-born player won here since Tom Weiskopf captured the U.S. Senior Open in 1995? Since then Ernie Els, Sergio Garcia and, most recently, K.J. Choi have hoisted various trophies at the feet of the glorious clubhouse to leave their American counterparts wanting.
This has been the summer of the American, though. Since Sergio took THE PLAYERS Championship and Ryuji Imada won the next week in Atlanta no foreign-born player has won on the PGA TOUR. My bet is for this trend to continue in the shade of the Capital here at Congressional.
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When I think about Tiger Woods these days, I see him sitting around flipping channels and eating Hershey bars with his leg elevated. Oh, wait -- that is what I would do on an average Monday and I have two good knees.
No, Tiger is probably in the midst of coming up with some sort of revolutionary exercise program that burns 5,000 calories a day through osmosis. And in his spare time he could be working on a national best seller on diplomacy in the Middle East.
Whatever he is doing it doesn't look like he will be doing it at Congressional this week. Doctors seem to have done something that no person whose last name isn't Woods has been able to do in more than a decade ... stop Tiger. Maybe the players here this week can take a lesson. Medical school at night may not be a bad option.
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Tiger Woods Foundation President Greg McLaughlin and his team are looking for an East Coast site for another learning center. They are currently looking at options in the D.C. area for an appropriate site to build an operation like the one in Los Angeles.
While many golfers and athletes have taken on impressive charitable works, Tiger's efforts are without peer. Throughout his formidable career, he has dedicated the bulk of his charitable energies to enhancing the education and lives of young people free of charge. Like most things with Tiger there is a lesson here -- or, at least a question. If he can do that, how much can each of us do?
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Even in Tiger's absence this week there will be more than enough dignitaries on hand at Congressional. A year ago, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice stood behind the 18th green with Michael Collins of the PGA TOUR network and actually called a live golf shot on the air. She read Billy Andrade's putt and then tracked it like a professional broadcaster, accurately calling the birdie try as it died underneath the hole.
What did we learn from this dignitary? First, she is an avid student of the game although she admitted her duties don't allow her to play as much as she would like. Secondly, she can do any other member of our broadcast team's job while collectively we couldn't carry her briefcase. Of course, we are all qualified to carry her golf bag.
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Rocco Mediate will once again take center stage this week. You know that you are in the presence of greatness when losing a golf tournament turns you into a star. And Rocco hasn't stopped talking since that amazing day at Torrey Pines.
What the world has come to realize is that Rocco is one of the great throwback personalities on the PGA TOUR. He will talk his way around the golf course and then have a drink in the clubhouse with you -- where he will continue to entertain. In short, he is a great guy who is fun to be around.
What sport doesn't need more of that? And with Justin Hicks (you remember him, he was leading the U.S. Open after 18 holes) winning on the Nationwide Tour this past week it seems likely that there is good karma afoot for the runner-up in our national Open.
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