In just three years, Tiger Woods' golf tournament, the AT&T National at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, MD, has become a new summer ritual for the national capital region to kick off the steaming hot July 4th weekend.
"I think, overall this week, having all the service men and women out there, it makes for just such a special week," said Woods, at Tuesday's pre-tournament press conference.
Tiger has staunchly embedded his signature tournament with the U.S. military and Coast Guard, largely in honor of his famous father, the late Earl Woods, a Green Beret and lieutenant colonel with Special Forces in Vietnam.
"We should all say ‘thank you,' to them personally, and shake hands, and certainly be very appreciative for what they do, putting their lives on the line for all of us."
The tournament gave out 30,000 free tickets through the Pentagon to active duty, reserve and retired personnel, and DoD civilians.
This year, two "wounded warriors" will join Tiger for the ceremonial first shot on Wednesday, the usual fun day at PGA tournaments before the real action kicks off on Thursday. Fifty wounded warriors will get "VIP" treatment this week, tournament officials said.
"You know, its - it hits home when you see one of them come out and to see what they're dealing with on a daily basis," said Woods.
"A lot of them have gotten hurt, and that's just the nature of war. It's what happens. And that is the grim reality of it, when you see one of the wounded warriors, but that's what does happen in war and in combat."
Also, 26 active personnel will serve as caddies, wearing camouflage caddie bibs for the pro-am on Wednesday at hole No. 7, a 174-yard par 3. Others will serve a starters.
For you sandbaggers out there, Jack Nicklaus hit a hole-in-one on this hole in the final round of the 1995 US Senior Open.
And on the 72nd hole of the tournament on Sunday, each player will be introduced by military personnel.
Tiger said he has invited the commander-in-chief, President Barack Obama, out to the course but was not sure if the president would make it.
"He's a little bit busy. There might be a couple of things on his plate," said Woods.
Obama has played golf four weekends in a row, including at Andrews AFB this weekend and previously at Ft. Belvoir with Vice President Joe Biden.
