Nick Watney Wins the AT&T National at Aronimink

NEWTOWN SQUARE–The dark, ominous clouds and humidity in the air was a little more threatening on Sunday than in any of the previous rounds of the AT&T National at the in Newtown Square. But it was a day more of fathers and their sons to watch tiny white balls rain from the sky, and land on fast greens with uncanny precision.

No one did it better than Nick Watney, who finished with a final round 66 to claim his fourth PGA Tour victory in winning the AT&T National with a 13-under par 267 total. Watney edged out K.J. Choi, who finished with a 269 total and was actually tied with Watney after 14 holes. But Choi’s double-bogey on 15 unlocked the tie, and Watney hung on.

More than anything, the event brought big-league golf to Newtown Square and the area as a whole. It provided a rare glimpse of the shot-making ability from some of the true masters of the game.

Perhaps no one received a bigger thrill than the number of kids that filled the galleries. Seated in the 18th-hole gallery absorbing every shot were a pair of precocious onlookers, 13-year-old David and 10-year-old Michael Asch, the sons of KYW radio anchorman Jeff Asch.

David’s personal favorite was Rickie Fowler, a stylish young golfer who was decked out in ostentatious orange from head-to-tie on Sunday—including his orange shoes and tee. Fowler, who’s never won a PGA Tour event, suffered through a bad front nine on Sunday that took him out of contention.

“I play golf and learned from watching the pros this closely that golf isn’t an easy game to play and you need patience,” said David, an eighth grader at Wissahickon Middle School. “I don’t have a lot of friends my age that are into golf, but I like the game and I like playing it. This is my first golf tournament and it’s great. I’m having a great time. But I wanted to see Fowler win because he is a young guy and he’s never won before. I was hoping to see him win his first PGA event.”

Michael, David’s younger brother, received a little more from the event—an autographed Ping cap from Michael Thompson’s caddy, who came over on the first tee and handed the cap to young Michael, telling him he may need it if it rained later. It was a forever keepsake for someone watching a major golf event live for the first time.

“We knew Tiger Woods wasn’t going to play, but we wanted to keep an eye on him anyway,” Michael said. “I play golf, too, better than my brother (laughs), and I learned the sport takes a lot of concentration. You have to be quiet.”

This AT&T National was Kurt Kebaugh’s second PGA tournament he’s
attended, the first was last year’s AT&T National at Aronimink. Kebaugh, from Maryland, just finished grad school at Eastern University and is the assistant baseball coach at the Haverford School. He showed up with a group of friends to take in the final round.

“This is so much different than seeing these guys play on TV,” Kebaugh said. “This is different from any other sporting event, because you have to know the game a little. But it has been great. You’re able to follow and walk with the leaders, and I was here to watch Patrick Cantlay, an amateur from UCLA, play and follow him. It’s incredible how good these guys are. My best shot is like a common shot for them. This is definitely more enjoyable than watching it on TV.”

Dave Weller, from Gilbertsville, took his son, Jon, and Jon’s friend,
Travis Poley. They woke up at 5:45 a.m. to make sure they arrived early to see the golfers on the driving range and practice putting in the morning.

“This has been great, to be this close to these guys and see how well
they play,” Dave Weller said. “This is my first time at an event like this and it’s unbelievable how the ball rockets off their club heads. You’d have no idea knowing how they hit the ball by watching on TV. To see it in person is amazing.”

Jon Poley plays golf regularly and has been to the AT&T National almost every day of the event. He wanted to see John Vegas win because he likes his style.

“I noticed how much these guys pay attention to all of the little details,” Poley said. “They don’t miss anything. I love playing golf, but I’ve broken a club or two when I’ve lost patience sometimes. Watching these guys was amazing.”

What grabbed Poley was the immaculate condition of the course. Aronimink provided fast greens and difficult holes. “It blew me away how challenging this course is, and you see the greatest players in the world right in our backyard,” Poley said. “I don’t really have a favorite who wanted to see win. I’m just here for fun.”

Kathleen Trainor and her husband have been members of Aronimink for 30 years. Their son, David, was men’s club champion, and now is the head golf coach at Akron University.

“This course and the club is great,” Kathleen said. “These guys are the best in the world, they’re certainly not weekend hackers. But I love the fact that there are so many young people in the galleries, and in the field. Tiger Woods isn’t here, but none of these younger golfers are afraid of Tiger.”

Perhaps a lasting image of the AT&T National didn’t come on the course, but rather in the 18th-hole gallery. It was Michael Asch in his Phillies’ Cliff Lee T-shirt and his new autographed golf cap nestled in his father’s arms resting quietly as the day was winding down.

It was a great day for Watney and agreat day for fathers and sons.