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In the words of Cameron Beckman, "There's a zillion people out there."
Beckman was exaggerating slightly on Saturday when he said that, but an unprecedented 194,073 people came to see the AT&T National hosted by Tiger Woods at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda this week. They were not disappointed.
"It was great shaking my own hand today," said Woods, who has also won tournaments hosted by golf greats Byron Nelson, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus in his career. "I thoroughly enjoyed that."
For the first time this week, the event matched the aura that its host carries with him wherever he goes. The attendance for the four days of competitive golf, 165,031, was almost twice last year's (92,624), when Woods did not play following knee surgery, and 43,835 more than in 2007.
Humanity covered every square foot with a view of the 18th green Sunday, as Woods and Kim made their way down the fairway. The final pairing of defending champion with tournament host, and the eventual triumph of the world's No. 1-ranked golfer, highest-paid and most globally recognized athlete, cemented this year's AT&T National as the standard by which all others will be judged.
"I think this week, the weather was perfect, you had the Fourth of July … Everything just came together," Woods said. "[Wednesday], I was playing with Tony Romo [in the Pro-am], Jessica [Simpson] came out, we had the Screaming Eagles. It just got off to a great start, and the buzz built from there."
Just as the event is hitting its stride, however, it is taking a two-year detour to Aronimink Golf Course in suburban Philadelphia, the city with the second-strongest claim to the July 4 holiday. Renovations get underway Wednesday that will transform the course in advance of the 2011 U.S. Open.
The AT&T National will return to Congressional in 2012. To keep the momentum going until then, Tiger Woods Foundation President Greg McLaughlin announced Sunday that anyone with a Maryland, Viriginia or D.C. driver's license will be admitted free to next year's tournament.
Woods also said he was open to trying to move the AT&T National to a different weekend on the PGA Tour calendar. Most top European players, and many of the world's highest-ranked players, were in Europe this week to prepare for the British Open, July 16-19.
Best shot
Woods' dagger of a 20-foot putt on the 16th hole for what would prove to be the winning birdie. Kim, who followed with a birdie opportunity well inside Woods', was shaken and missed his putt to fall three strokes back with two holes to play.
Biggest gallery reaction
Woods' first birdie putt of the day, 18 fee uphill on the difficult par-4 sixth hole, elicited a roar that echoed all the way across the Congressional grounds. From that point on, Woods held or shared the tournament lead for the rest of the day.
Best gallery comment
"Who's this guy? No idea."
"Tiger … Jones, I think."
A couple of jokesters who waited on the 13th tee all day for Woods to arrive
Best fashion statement
Who else but Woods, of course. Black pants, black hat, bullfight-red golf shirt. An instant classic when it debuted 12 years ago as his signature Sunday best.
Weather: Mid-70s and overcast with a slight breeze all day, but the rain held off.
Attendance: 43,936, for a six-day total of 194,073.
