Lefty supports Tiger in size of new tournament

Woods is responsible for the massive increases in prize money on tour because of his popularity, which has led to stout TV contracts. Total prize money was $80 million his first full year as a pro, and now is about $265 million.

“If we look at the big picture, he does a heck of a lot more in this tournament ... and it does an incredible amount for the tour and the game of golf,” Mickelson said. “I think we need to be careful on that.”

Stirring the debate is that the AT&T National replaces the International, which had a 144-man field.

While Woods and Finchem favor a reduced field in Washington, they have not proposed a number. The tour has studied making all invitationals the same size, although it could face a struggle getting Nicklaus to go along at the Memorial. His field has a minimum of 105.

“It’s always a concern,” former U.S. Amateur champion Jeff Quinney said. “If I was a rookie and had limited starts and I hadn’t made too many cuts, you want to have as many starts as you can. Luckily, I probably won’t have to worry. I don’t think it’s significant — maybe 20, 30 spots. It wasn’t like a huge cut like Doral is next week.”

Doral for years had a 144-man field until it was folded into a WGC event and likely will have a field of just under 100.

“Obviously, there’s 50 percent of the tour that thinks it’s a great idea; 50 percent don’t,” Rod Pampling said.

Woods’ foundation runs the tournament and will get the charity money, which he will use to build a Tiger Woods Learning Center in the Washington area. Still to be determined is a golf course — all signs point to Congressional the first two years.

Woods favors a shorter field.

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“Play moves along a lot faster,” he said. “You get around in a much more rhythmical pace. I think that’s important.”

Woods has played Bay Hill every year and missed Memorial for the first time last year after his father died, and he has liked the way Palmer and Nicklaus run those tournaments. Both are invitationals, meaning the field is smaller.

Palmer said the benefit of a smaller field is “it attracts interest.”

“If you’re able to do a good tournament — and we like to think that we do a good tournament — it creates an interest among the players who want to come and win this golf tournament,” he said. “If we had a number that was perfect, that would be ... 120.”

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