Injuries are largely responsible for the weak field at this week''s AT&T National, according to PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem.
Play gets underway at the Congressional Country Club, Bethesda on Thursday, but without eight of the top ten in the FedEX Cup standings.
At a pre-tournament press conference, Finchem said there were good reasons for the shortage of top names competing for the $1 million (£500,000) first prize.
He explained that in addition to Tiger Woods being ruled out by injury, several other top players have fitness problems.
"We know for a fact that three of them at least wanted to play and couldn''t play. I mean, Vijay [Singh] can''t play right now. Zach Johnson can''t play. Adam Scott can''t play," the commissioner said.
He added that the fact International Final Qualifying for the Open Championship took place earlier in the week had also had an impact.
Ryuji Imada and Anthony Kim are the two top ten players who are competing, although the field also contains defending champion KJ Choi and Masters winner Trevor Immelman. |