Tiger Woods: Where Are All His Buddies at Aronimink?

Just take a moment and imagine, if you will, that you are eavesdropping on Tiger Woods having some phone conversations with some of his "friends" in an effort to boost the star power of this week's AT&T field at Aronimink.

Tiger: Hey, Phil, it's Tiger, how're things?

Phil: Good Tigh, good, how's your knee progressing?

Tiger: Good Phil, good, I'm not 100 percent yet, but I'm close.

Phil:  Well, great, we need you back out there.

Tiger: Phil, funny you should say that. I need you in my field at Aronimink for the AT&T.

Phil: Well, uh, Tigh, you see, I promised Amy and the kids that's we'd got to the local fireworks. They've really been looking forward to that, it's a big time and I just can't let them down. Also I've got another conflict, I'm doing an outing that Thursday, you know how it is, I need gas money for the G-650, long flight to the Open, you know.

Tiger: I understand.

Phil:  Tigh, by the way, will you be over there at St. George's.

Tiger: Not unless I can get this @#%&* boot off my foot.

Phil:  Well good luck with it, hope to see you there.

Next call

Tiger: Hey Stricks, how're things?

Steve Stricker: Great Tigh, how's your knee coming along?

Tiger: Good, real good, but it's not 100 percent yet.

Stricker: Well, get well, we need you back out there.

Tiger: Stricks, which is why I'm calling. I need you at my AT&T event at Aronimink.

Stricker: Geez Tigh, I was thinking about it then I realized I'd promised the kids we'd go to the fireworks here, you know, it being July 4th weekend and all. They're really looking forward to it.

Tiger: We have a GREAT fireworks show planned here.

Stricker: Ya, I know but it's so much cooler up here in 'Sconsin, ya.

Tiger: Well Stricks, I'm sorry to hear that.

Stricker: Yeah, me too, sorry, maybe next time.

You get the picture, don't you?

So where are all of Tiger's "friends?"

It's AT&T this week, it's a big event but there's no Phil, no Stricker, not even smiling Matt Kuchar which means no Americans from the top 10.

No Dustin Johnson. He fell in love with the beer over in Germany, is still wearing his lederhosen and has discovered the joy of hefty appearance-fee money.

But heck, Tiger's got Mark Wilson and Lucas Glover and Nick Watney. Oh heck, almost forgot Jim Furyk, the reigning FedEx Cup champion.

Wow.

Crank up the fireworks, that's reason to celebrate.