This one died a slow death.
This tournament stop on the PGA Tour started with everything going for it, and now it will simply fade away, into the night, gone — just like that.
Maybe it’s fitting that Tiger Woods is there for the swan song of The National brought to you by Quicken Loans and its cutesy spokesman — Rickie Fowler.
This thing started out as a huge event, one of those “invitationals” as in The Memorial or Bay Hill and it had a huge setting — Congressional Country Club with its huge host — hugest of the huge in the form of Eldrick Tont Woods.
Sadly, this event has mimicked Woods’ career.
Anyone remember Thanksgiving time, 2009?
That’s when Tiger’s downhill spiral began and maybe the same could be said for The National.
Once Congressional gave the tournament the old heave-ho, maybe then the handwriting was on the walls of Jay Monhan’s palatial office at PGA Tour headquarters.
Congressional basically had no choice. If it wanted future U.S. Opens, it had to show the PGA Tour the door. Done deal.
As Woods struggled with his health and surgeries, so did The National.
Woods was a total no-show last year for good reason. Anyone remember Memorial Day weekend in Jupiter?
Fact is that Woods’ enthusiasm was waning long before then. He wasn’t a popular guy with the other players, once sitting by himself eating lunch in a crowded clubhouse then walking past a score of other players without saying a word. The host with the least.
These days the Tiger Woods Foundation is the beneficiary of the L.A. Open at Riviera, after all, Tiger is a California kid, D.C. is strange territory for him.
Which brings us to this week’s Farewell To D.C. party at TPC Potomac, which used to be TPC Avenal, which isn’t the greatest course, it’s not easy, and certainly not a hit with the players. As Davis Love III once said: “It’s not a bad course unless you drive past Congressional to get there.”
So yes, Rickie Fowler’s there because as spokesman for Quicken Loans, his contract says he’ll be there. Other names? Well, uh, there’s Jimmy Walker and Stewart Cink.
But wait, Eldrick is there to save the day, the way so many, including the PGA Tour, thought he’d make this one a landmark stop on the PGA Tour schedule.
Funny how things can turn out.
You’ve got Justin Thomas heading over to France to get a look at this year’s Ryder Cup course — Le Golf National outside Paris. He’s playing for the first time in the Open de France. Jon Rahm’s there too.
Meanwhile, back at the TPC Potomac, you’ve got Tiger in his one tune-up appearance before the 147th Open Championship at Carnoustie on July 19th.
Next year this tournament moves to Detroit and the Detroit Golf Club. Detroit? No one loses out to Detroit! But when the chairman of Quicken Loans is from Detroit, yeah, it goes to Detroit. Hey Jay (Monahan) if you want the money, you’re going to Detroit.
There won’t be any tears, no protests from anyone. The National will go away quietly come Sunday, unless you know who actually steps up and wins.
