BETHESDA, Md. -- A funny thing happened when Tony Romo showed up at the 10th tee at 6:30 a.m. Wednesday for a tee time with Tiger Woods in the pro-am for the AT&T National here in the heart of Redskins country. He was greeted with ... applause.
Throughout his round with tournament host Woods, congressional minority leader John Boehner and Dallas-based automobile broker Tom Dundon, the Cowboys quarterback was treated as if this were a home game. A few dozen gallery members were even adorned in navy, silver and white No. 9 jerseys.
Oh sure, there were a few who stayed loyal to the local team, including one 10-year-old who audibly admonished Jessica Simpson -- not present at the time -- for "settling" on beau Romo, who is "getting chubby."
Another spectator wore a T-shirt that read, "Romo wuz NOT built in a day," which may have been more factual than adversarial. When the scratch handicapper flubbed a fairway wood approach shot on No. 9, there were a few lighthearted catcalls, but nothing of real disdain. And during the tournament's opening ceremony, Romo received a smattering of boos, as Redskins stars Jason Campbell and Antwaan Randle-El were met with boisterous cheers.
As for the golf, Romo actually stepped it back and played the final 17 holes from the tournament tees alongside Woods, even outdriving his partner on a few occasions. Though his putting stroke left something to be desired, the quarterback acquitted himself well, helping the team to an overall score of 9-under-par.
It may not have been the kind of performance that would equate to a game-winning drive at FedEx Field, but it was hardly an ill-timed interception, either.
Jason Sobel is a golf writer for ESPN.com. He can be reached at Jason.Sobel@espn3.com.
Jason Sobel is a golf columnist and blogger for ESPN.com. He grew up in Islip, N.Y., attended Brandeis University in Waltham, Mass., and wrote for newspapers including Newsday and The Boston Globe. He was also a member of the Brandeis golf team during his junior year -- not for his on-course skills but because he owned a car and didn't mind driving teammates to practice.
Sobel, who joined ESPN in 1997, earned four Sports Emmy awards as a member of ESPN's Studio Production department. He was ESPN.com's golf editor from July 2004 until becoming a columnist/blogger in April 2008.
