All military members received free tickets and exclusive perks at the National . |
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PAUL PIERCE JR . |
no doubt helping to bring back Quicken Loans , but as the last hurrah .
“ The D . C . area really wants to have a golf tournament each and every year ,” Woods said . “ It ’ s just trying to get a sponsor that ’ s willing to come up with the dollars like that , and a commitment .”
Neither the PGA Tour nor Tiger are giving up on the area just yet . Both have expressed how great of a sports town they think it is with Tiger praising the fans for their dedication in the heat this year .
“ This is on the more difficult side of a walking golf course and it ’ s hot , but they ’ re out here supporting and cheering , and boy , they ’ re into it and it ’ s fun ,” he said .
Laura Neal , senior vice president of communications for the PGA Tour , said , “ The PGA Tour considers the Washington , D . C ., market an extremely important one and we are hopeful we can return with professional golf in the future .”
Comments like Neal ’ s don ’ t seem to be easing the uncertainty the community is feeling as all reports indicate that the tournament is gone for good .
HONORING THE MILITARY Then there are also the incredible military contributions the tournament has provided . As Billy Hurley III — a two-time winner of the VSGA Amateur — said in 2016 , the year he won the event , “ There is not another event on Tour which honors our military in the extraordinary fashion as the National .”
That sentiment was echoed by many military members during the tournament as they expressed their appreciation for an event of this caliber that affords them so much . Each military member not only received free tickets but was also given a camouflaged lanyard that granted them access to the Lockheed Martin Military Pavilion along with numerous other benefits .
There was a real sense of disappointment from volunteers , fans and even players at the thought of the tournament not returning . Isaiah Belton , a senior on the golf team at Virginia State University made his way up to the tournament for the first time with his family . He was in
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awe of the Tiger experience , saying that his greatest memory was “ to be on the 18th tee and witness the crowd that Tiger brings ,” but that he was upset to see the tournament go away .
As a competitive golfer with a dream to one day play on Tour himself , Belton was also touched by a personal moment he had with Harold Varner III , who gave him inspirational advice to continue pursuing his dream . With such dramatic memories , it is no wonder that he was upset over the thought of the event leaving the area .
Reiterating the sentiment of the general public , Mark Guttenberg , a former PGA Tour
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“ There is not another event on Tour which honors our military in the extraordinary fashion as theNational .” – Billy Hurley III
player and coach of Billy Hurley III , shared his sorrow at the loss of the tournament .
“ As a golf professional that has a passion for playing and teaching the game , I will miss the opportunity to watch the greatest players come to my backyard to show off their skills ,” said Guttenberg , who played in two Kemper Opens and has attended many D . C . tournaments as a fan and volunteer . “ I will miss seeing all the familiar faces at these events . I will miss the buzz or energy that a Tour event brings . And I ’ ll miss the opportunity to volunteer through the MAPGA in these events as well .”
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