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Aronimink GC 
PGA Tour, AT&T, Tiger’s foundation reaffirm AT&T National at Aronimink

By Joe Logan
Published December 15, 2009

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.

 

 

 

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