AT&T National Preview

Tiger Woods defends

published 29 June 2010

Lowdown: The PGA Tour is in Pennsylvania this week for the AT&T National at Aronimink Golf Club. Tiger Woods is defending champion and he'll aim to make it back into the winner's circle for the first time since returning to competitive action earlier this season. There's a new venue for the AT&T this year. For the last three seasons the tournament has been contested at Congressional Country Club in Maryland. But in 2010 the competition heads for Aronimink Golf Club in Pennsylvania. Originally designed by renowned course architect Donald Ross back in 1928, the layout at Aronimink was remodelled by Ron Pritchard in 2000. At over 7,000 yards, it's a long par 70 with just two par 5s and numerous long par 4s to contend with. Aronimink was the venue for the PGA Championship of 1962 won by Gary Player. At last season's AT&T National, Tiger Woods held off a charging Hunter Mahan to take the title by a single stroke. Mahan blistered around Congressional in 62 on the Sunday. But Woods held firm down the stretch to keep the younger man at bay.

Venue: Aronimink GC, Newton Square, Pennsylvania Date: Jul 1-4 Course stats: par 70, 7,237 yards Purse: $6,200,000 Winner: $1,116,000 Defending Champion: Tiger Woods (-13)

Player Watch: Tiger Woods - His 66 in the third round at Pebble Beach gave a glimpse of the old Tiger and hinted that his return to the top level may be imminent. Jim Furyk - The veteran is enjoying an excellent season with two wins to his name already in 2010. He's an accurate player, a good scrambler and a fierce competitor. Rickie Fowler - Twice a runner-up in 2010, it's only a matter of time before the youngster bags his first victory.

Key hole: 17th. A 212 yard par 3 that plays downhill. There's a steep bank short and left of the green and anything that just misses the surface could roll down into the lake. There could be big scoring swings on this hole.

Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He has also worked with Golf Monthly to produce a podcast series. Called 18 Majors: The Golf History Show it offers new and in-depth perspectives on some of the most important moments in golf's long history. You can find all the details about it here.

He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly.

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?