BETHESDA, Md. – In a surreal scene, George McNeill, Brian Harman and Greg Owen teed off at 1 p.m. to begin the third round of the AT&T National.
Because of damage caused by an overnight storm officials have closed Congressional to fans for Round 3, but as the lead threesome stepped to the tee about 20 workers and volunteers gathered around and watched what officials believe is the first “closed” Tour event.
McNeill was announced to the tee first, which drew a round of strange looks considering the low-key nature of the event, and he was forced to back off his tee shot as chainsaws echoed in the distance.
“I knew it,” he laughed.
Harman was also forced to back off his shot when a maintenance worker’s phone beeped as he prepared to hit.
Longtime Tour rules official Mark Russell said he could not remember the circuit ever closing an event to spectators.
Hoggard, a senior writer, covers the PGA Tour and appears on-air in several capacities.
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