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From GOLF.com

By Rick Krebs, PGA Professional- PGA.com

July 6, 2008 -- Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland was the venue for the 2nd Edition of the AT&T National hosted by Tiger Woods.

Just outside our nation''s capitol, Congressional Country Club was opened in 1924 and has hosted five USGA events, including the 1964 and 1997 US Open and the 1976 PGA Championship. The 2011 US Open will also be contested here.

A club steeped in History and tradition is now creating new traditions. As of last year, this tournament is now played over the July 4th holiday. It is appropriate then, that we salute the hundreds of thousands of Americans who have so valiantly served in our military. Each day the tournament honored a different branch of our armed forces. It began Thursday recognizing the Air Force, Friday the Navy, Saturday the Marines and finishing with the Army on Sunday. Tiger''s dad, Earl Woods, was a Green Beret in the US Army during the Vietnam War and served two full Tours. The Earl Woods Memorial Pro-Am was held on Wednesday, July 2nd. The tournament got under way on Thursday July 3rd with Fred Couples and two children who''s parents are serving in the military, hitting tee shots off Hole #1.

The first round leader was Steve Marino, a hometown favorite, who grew up in nearby Fairfax, VA. Steve birdied three of his opening four holes, did not have a par putt longer than 5 feet. He finished his round with an 8 foot birdie putt. He shot 5 under 65. Tied for second were 3 players at 4 under par, Jeff Overton, Frank Lickliter, and Bob Estes. In the early morning at Congressional, a rain shower softened the smooth greens, and the fireworks on the 4th got an early start. Tom Pernice Jr., tied a tournament record with a 7 under par 63. He had 8 birdies and on 6 of the holes, his furthest distance for birdie was 4ft-3inches. Steve Stricker and John Merrick shot 64''s. Jeff Overton, Cliff Kresge, Nick O''Hern and Jeff Maggert had 65''s. The second round leaders, Tom Pernice Jr. and Jeff Overton were at 9 under par at 131. Fifteen players were within 6 shots of the lead. Anthony Kim, a rising star, was at 134, 6 under. 83 players made the cut. The cut was 143, 3 over par.

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