As the Tiger Woods
sex scandal continues to deliver shocking new revelations each day, it’s too
soon to say whether the world-famous golfer and tournament host will be in town
this summer for the AT&T
National at Aronimink Golf Club. But the tournament is going to go on
with or without him.
Statements
released Tuesday by both the PGA Tour and the Tiger Woods Foundation,
which runs the AT&T
National, confirmed the intentions of Tour, the title sponsor and Woods’ charitable foundation to stage
the golf tournament as scheduled the week of June 28-July 4.
"Greg has
spoken to AT&T
representatives and they have reaffirmed their commitment as title sponsor of
the AT&T
National hosted by Tiger Woods," Rachel Rees, public relations manager for the Tiger Woods
Foundation, wrote in an email.
Greg is her boss, Greg McLaughlin, president and CEO of the Tiger Woods Foundation, which, among
its charitable endeavors, has run the AT&T National since its inception three
years ago. Five staffers from the TWF have
been working out of the Aronimink clubhouse in Newtown Square for months.
Questions
about the possible fate of the tournament -- or at least its connection to AT&T
and Woods
-- were raised in recent days, when the communications giant hinted that it
might be reevaluating its multi-million dollar endorsement deal with the
golfer.
In the wake
of the scandal that has enveloped Woods, one major sponsor, Gillette, has nixed
the golfer from it forthcoming ad campaign, and another of his biggest
sponsors, Accenture,
has cut
ties with him altogether, saying his image no longer fits with the image of
the consulting firm.
Regardless
of whether AT&T
eventually decides to follow suit and dump Woods, the AT&T name will remain on the event
– at least for this year. No
word on 2011,
when Aronimink
GC is scheduled to host the tournament for the second straight year, while
its regular home, Congressional Country Club
in Bethesda, Md., hosts the U.S. Open.
On Tuesday,
at the request of MyPhillyGolf.com, Rees released statements from Ty Votaw, vice president of communications for
the PGA Tour, and from McLaughlin. They are as follows:
"The PGA TOUR is excited to be coming to Philadelphia in 2010 to stage a successful AT&T
National at Aronimink Golf Club. The membership of Aronimink has been wonderful to work
with and we are looking forward to a great week benefitting the Tiger Woods
Foundation." - Ty Votaw, VP Communications, PGA TOUR
"We are looking forward to another great event with the 2010 AT&T
National and are thrilled about bringing the tournament to Philadelphia,
which is such a great sports town. We plan to welcome 120 of the world's best
pros at Aronimink
Golf Club this summer for what will be an exciting week of competition that
benefits young people worldwide through the Tiger Woods Foundation." - Greg McLaughlin,
President & CEO, Tiger Woods Foundation.
Of course,
as events continue to play out, no one is in position to say whether Woods, who
has announced an indefinite leave from the game, will have returned by the week
of the AT&T
National
– as a player,
host,
either or both.