Woods Has Extra Incentive To Win AT & T National

03/07/2009 05:13

Tiger Woods said his role as host of this week's $6-million AT&T National provided an added incentive to finish top of the leaderboard at Congressional Country Club.

"It is fun winning your own event," the 33-year-old world No. 1 told reporters. "No doubt. It is awfully fun to do that."

Woods headlines a 120-player field at the pristine Congressional, site of the 2011 U.S. Open. The four-day event at the 7,255-yard, par-70 course outside Washington, D.C., begins today.

Among those also entered are newly crowned U.S. Open champion Lucas Glover, 2008 AT&T winner Anthony Kim, world No. 3 Paul Casey, Canadian Mike Weir and triple major winner Vijay Singh.

Woods, still searching for his first major of the year, sat out the 2008 AT&T while he recuperated from knee surgery.

"Unfortunately I wasn't able to attend last year," he said. "I was at home watching it on the couch and it wasn't a whole lot of fun."

The 14-time major winner said he was thrilled to have his injury behind him, adding that it "feels good to wake up in the morning and not ache, not want to move out of bed."

"I went through all of that," he said. "I don't want to go through that again. It feels great to be back. What my surgeons and trainers did to get me to this point has been great."

Woods is expected to be challenged for the $1-million winner's prize by Kim, who won the AT&T title a year ago in a demonstrative wire-to-wire victory. Kim said the triumph "definitely elevated my confidence."

The native Californian, seen by many as having as much potential as anyone on the tour, said he will remain patient as he improves his game.

"I just turned 24 10 days ago," said Kim, who finished tied for 16th at the U.S. Open at Bethpage two weeks ago. "I have no pressure from anybody. I want to play great golf. I want to win golf tournaments.

SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:

After opening with a 6-under par 64, that could very easily have been a 60, on Thursday in the first round, don’t bet against Woods winning his own event, either.