Rose Withdraws from AT&T National


Reigning U.S. Open champion Justin Rose will be joining tournament host Tiger Woods on the sidelines for this week's AT&T National. The $6.5 million PGA Tour event, which benefits the Tiger Woods Foundation, starts Thursday at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md.

Rose made the announcement Monday, citing a need to rest and prepare for the Open Championship at Muirfield in mid-July.

"I'm extremely disappointed to withdraw from the AT&T National, but the last three weeks have been extremely demanding both mentally and physically," said Rose - who won the tournament in 2010 - in a statement.

"This tournament has been very good to me - especially in 2010 - and I would play if I felt I could. Tiger and his Foundation run a great tournament, and I wish I could be there."

Woods, the defending champion, pulled out last week because of an injured elbow.

The AT&T National headliners are now current Masters' champion Adam Scott, Jason Day, Hunter Mahan and Brandt Snedeker.

Rose will be replaced in the invitational, limited-field tournament with 120 players (as opposed to 156 for a regular Tour event) by Brendon Todd. D.J. Trahan is the next alternate.

For all the starting times, visit http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/at-t-national/tee-times.html.