Big Weekend In DC Puts Tiger's AT&T National On Solid Footing

There was a "dramatic surge in crowds" for this past weekend's PGA Tour AT&T National at Congressional Country Club, placing the event on "solid footing as it prepares for a two-year stint away" from DC, according to Tim Lemke of the WASHINGTON TIMES. Nearly 200,000 fans attended the six days of the tournament and related events, almost "doubling the attendance at last year's event and setting records on every day of the tournament." The '08 event failed to draw a crowd larger than 30,000 on any single day, but Friday's attendance "hit nearly 47,000, a tournament record," while Sunday's crowd "reached almost 44,000." Tournament Dir Greg McLaughlin: "We couldn't have scripted it any better." While the PGA Tour does not release official attendance figures, AT&T National could be "one of the most highly attended events of the year." Golfer Bryce Molder said, "The crowds are so good here. It was really fun." Lemke notes the attendance also "should help the Tiger Woods Foundation, which lost revenue this year because of a decline in sponsorships brought on by the downturn in the economy." McLaughlin said that the tournament "hopes to learn how much it raised for charity within the next 90 days." The event for the next two years will move to Aronimink Golf Club outside Philadelphia as Congressional prepares to host the '11 U.S. Open, "creating a challenge for tournament officials who now must market the event to a new group of fans and potential sponsors." McLaughlin yesterday "promised free admission at Aronimink for any fan with a valid driver's license from Maryland, Virginia" or DC ( WASHINGTON TIMES, 7/7 ). SPRING FEVER : In DC, Barry Svrluga reports there are "several factors that indicate that the AT&T National, which has been held over the Fourth of July weekend in each of its first three years, might return to a new spot on the calendar when it comes back to Congressional" for the '12 PGA Tour season. McLaughlin: "We're certainly open to looking at new dates and discussing them. Nothing is even close to being decided, but we'll have those discussions." The most likely new date "appears to be sometime in May." The Tour is "working through sponsorship issues that will affect its future schedules, and it is possible dates earlier on the calendar might free up." McLaughlin said Tour events from March-June, outside of the majors, "have the best fields" ( WASHINGTON POST, 7/7 ). SEEING RED : CBS' coverage of Sunday's AT&T National, which saw Woods win by one stroke over Hunter Mahan, earned a 4.6 overnight rating , up 207% from the '08 event, which Woods missed due to injury. USA TODAY's Michael Hiestand writes, "Would CBS hesitate if Woods asked to replace Katie Couric on its evening news?" ( USA TODAY, 7/7 ).

Nearly 200,000 Fans Attend AT&T National, Almost Doubling Last Year's Attendance