Jul 2, 2008 - 9:40 PM
0 shoutsBETHESDA, Maryland (Ticker) - Tiger Woods is hosting from home and K.J. Choi is back to defend the title at the $6 million AT&T National, which begins Thursday on the Blue Course at Congressional Country Club.
Last season, Choi defeated Steve Stricker by three strokes for an impressive win and an impressive double. He won the Memorial hosted by Jack Nicklaus earlier in 2007 and added the inaugural staging of Woods' event.
Woods has been advised by doctors not to fly and is on crutches for three weeks following ACL surgery on his left knee. Woods underwent the procedure after winning the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines for his third Open title and 14th career major.
With Woods gone, Stricker is the highest ranked player in the field at No. 7, and he will look to finish one spot better this week and pick up his first win since the Barclays to start last season's Fed Ex Cup Playoffs.
"I had a good tournament here last year," Stricker said. "It's always been a special place. Finishing second here last year, propelled me to a good, strong, season-ending push and I had a good rest of the year from here on out.
Fred Funk, who played in his first career PGA Tour event at Congressional in 1982, is in the field. Funk tied for 51st and earned $947 in his initial visit here but will be playing for a first prize of $1.08 million this week.
"It's always great to come back home," Funk said. "It truly is my home. It's such a treat to play this golf course, any time you get to play it, but especially in a tournament."
Choi, 38, has seven career PGA Tour titles and has posted at least one win in each season since 2005. He already has one win this season, at the Sony Open in January, but has not been at the top of his game of late.
Choi has missed the cut three times, including at the U.S. Open, in his last four starts with a tie for 53rd at his defense of the Memorial title mixed in. Despite the slump, Choi is entering this week looking at things in a positive light.
"I started out well this season, but the past few weeks haven't been so great," he said. "I am not really disappointed by that because I think I have learned a lot from those tournaments that I missed the cut in.
"Coming back to a course that I've won on definitely helps my confidence and I think it's going to help me a lot this week."
The Blue Course at congressional is playing par-70 at 7,255 yards.
