I‘m often asked, “What’s the coolest thing you’ve ever done as a reporter?”, and I never have an answer. We get access to so many events and people that, over the years, they can all sort of blur. There may be fifty things I could say, but I’m always coming up with one well after the inquisitor has left. Well, after next week I don’t think that’s going to be a problem.

As just about everybody knows, Tiger Woods is bringing his invitational golf tournament to Congressional Country Club next week (Because of his injured knee and fractured leg it’s not known at the moment if he’ll actually be here, as planned. Stay tuned…), making Washington the center of the golf universe for a while. Yours truly has been asked to emcee the tournament kickoff on Wednesday morning. I thought it was one of buddies playing tricks on me with a crank e-mail when I got the request, in part because it was sent by Lindsey Wagner, of the Tiger Woods Foundation. (That name will ring a bell for fans of the Bionic Woman TV show in the 70’s) As it turned out, it was legit, and it was not THAT Lindsey Wagner! This Lindsey is a sweetheart of a woman, and as Tournament Services Manager she laid out for me the plan for this great event that will take place next Wednesday morning at approximately 11:30 am.

The Foundation and the Tournament officials came up with the idea of sending golf balls and clubs to five different military bases around the world, plus one aircraft carrier. Military members serving in places like Iraq and Afghanistan hit shots in those far-off lands, retrieved the balls and sent everything back stateside. Now, here’s where it gets really cool – those balls and clubs will be delivered to Congressional’s first tee box by four members of the Screaming Eagles who will be dropping in by parachute! A group of children with parents serving in the military will then tee up those balls and hit the first shots of the tournament. Tiger had been planning to also hit one of the balls at the kickoff, but his friend Fred Couples is stepping in with the kids in his stead.

What a neat way to thank those who serve the nation during a competition playing out on the 4th of July holiday. Of course we’ll have coverage of it for you.