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In just shy of three years, Tiger Woods has entered 36 PGA Tour golf tournaments. He has won 19 of them — 53 percent.
Woods has only entered the tournament he hosts, the AT&T National, one time, and did not win it. The percentages say he is due this week at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda.
For that to happen, Woods will have to navigate a field of 119 other top touring pros, as well as his own duties as host.
"The demands of what you have to do off the golf course is certainly something I've learned," Woods said. "I've got just an incredible staff that have done such a great job over the last couple of years with this event, and hopefully I can do my job and win."
The tournament field, finalized this week, includes eight of the world's top-25 ranked golfers, beginning with Woods himself at No. 1. The newest addition to that list is freshly minted U.S. Open champion Lucas Glover, who earned a rain-soaked victory at Bethpage (N.Y.) on June 22.
Ricky Barnes, who shared the third-round lead with Glover and finished in a three-way tie for second place, has also been invited to Congressional.
The world's No. 2, Phil Mickelson, played the inaugural event in 2007, but will not take part this time around. Nor will Kenny Perry, who jumped to No. 4 in the rankings with a win at the Travelers Championship this past weekend.
The other top-25 golfers present this week are Paul Casey (No. 3), Jim Furyk (No. 9), Vijay Singh (No. 10), Sean O'Hair (No. 13), defending champion Anthony Kim (No. 15), Glover (No. 17) and Mike Weir (No. 24).
Many of Woods' off-course responsibilities revolve around honoring members of the U.S. military, a continuing theme of the AT&T National.
Woods was to hit the ceremonial first tee shot today with two wounded members of the Army, Major Ken Dwyer and Staff Sergeant Ramon Padilla. The balls for the shot were to be delivered from the sky by members of the 101st Airborne Division's Parachute Demonstration Team.
Also this week, the Lockheed Martin Military Pavilion adjacent to the fourth tee is open to holders of military tickets, distributed free of charge. Next to the pavilion, any patron will be able to build a care package to send to overseas troops at the USO Care Package Tent.
High temperatures during the four days of the tournament are expected to range from the upper 70s Thursday, gradually increasing to the upper 80s Saturday. Scattered thunderstorms are forecast for Thursday, with partly cloudy skies the rest of the weekend.
Weekend crowds climbed above 20,000 per day in 2007, the last time Woods played the event.
-Follow Gazette coverage of the AT&T National, including a look at opening day festivities, parking and this year's volunteers at www.gazette.net/golf.
-Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/Mont_Sports
