2007年VOA标准英语-Tiger Woods Set to Host Golf Tournament in Wash

By Parke Brewer¹
Washington
03 July 2007

World number one golfer Tiger Woods of the United States is in the nation's capital this week, set to host the inaugural² AT&T National in suburban³ Bethesda, Maryland. He met with the media in his pre-tournament news conference Tuesday at Congressional Country Club and VOA Sports Editor Parke Brewer was there.

Tiger Woods answers reporters' questions during press conference, 03 Jul 2007

No less than 20 television cameras were in the packed media room and Tiger Woods answered questions for about 40 minutes. Many were about his new daughter Sam Alexis, born to wife Elin the day after last month's U.S. Open ended.

Tiger explained where the name came from.

"My father had always called me Sam since the day I was born. It's weird⁴. He rarely ever called me Tiger," he said. "I would ask him, 'Why don't you ever call me Tiger?' He says, 'Well, you look more like a Sam.' I said, 'All right, that's cool.'"

Tiger said he feels somewhat guilty for being here, away from his new baby, but added both his mother and Elin's mother are at his home in Florida helping⁵ his wife out.

Baby Sam had been expected to arrive in early July, and if she had, Tiger would not have played in this tournament. Instead, fans in the Washington area will be treated to his first competitive rounds - beginning Thursday - since he played here 10 years ago at the U.S. Open.

One hundred and 20 players are in the field for the inaugural AT&T National, including five of the top six ranked players in the world.

Tiger said he admires his compatriot and rival Phil Mickelson, who is ranked second. He has struggled lately with a wrist injury but he elected to come play in this event hosted by Woods.

Tiger Woods

"I understand that he wants to get a competitive tournament in before he plays the British Open [later in the month], but for him to come in and choose this one, it just makes it very special for us, because obviously Phil has got all the talent in the world and is having a great year," Woods said. "Just unfortunately he's got some issues with the wrist. But hey, the definitely heals."

The AT&T National will benefit The Tiger Woods Foundation and pay tribute to the men and women in the Armed Forces. Tiger Woods wanted to honor his father, a decorated Vietnam veteran who died last year. All active duty military personal will get into the tournament free, as will all children under age 12.

Tiger said he probably would have gone into the military had he not become a professional golfer. He added because of his father, he was motivated to, in his way, acknowledge American soldiers.

"If I didn't have that experience growing up with a military father, I wouldn't think that I quite would understand the commitment and the things that they have been doing, and especially what's been going on overseas," he said. "I think it's just a small way of saying thank you."

And of course Tiger Woods would like nothing better than to win the first edition of this golf tournament he is hosting.

1 brewer   

n. 啤酒制造者

参考例句：

• Brewer is a very interesting man. 布鲁尔是一个很有趣的人。
• I decided to quit my job to become a brewer. 我决定辞职，做一名酿酒人。

2 inaugural   

adj.就职的；n.就职典礼

参考例句：

• We listened to the President's inaugural speech on the radio yesterday.昨天我们通过无线电听了总统的就职演说。
• Professor Pearson gave the inaugural lecture in the new lecture theatre.皮尔逊教授在新的阶梯讲堂发表了启用演说。

3 suburban   

adj.城郊的，在郊区的

参考例句：

• Suburban shopping centers were springing up all over America. 效区的商业中心在美国如雨后春笋般地兴起。
• There's a lot of good things about suburban living.郊区生活是有许多优点。

4 weird   

adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的

参考例句：

• From his weird behaviour,he seems a bit of an oddity.从他不寻常的行为看来，他好像有点怪。
• His weird clothes really gas me.他的怪衣裳简直笑死人。

5 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。