0Traffic less than terrific

BETHESDA, Md. – The most pressing topic this week at Congressional – after, of course, grooves, Jessica Simpson and drug testing – is congestion on River Road, a two-lane byway that feeds all traffic into the historic layout.

Traffic was so bad on Friday that Ryan Moore had to jump out of his courtesy car and run a mile to make his 12:12 p.m. tee time.

“My girlfriend was with us, otherwise I would have just ditched the car and ran,” said Moore, who arrived at the course in time to hit just five golf balls on the range. “I was really glad my caddie was with me or else I would have had to run with the bag on my back.”

It didn’t seem to bother Moore too much. He carded a second-round 66 to jump from a tie for 20th into eighth place.

Even tournament host Tiger Woods was not immune to the backups.

“I'll tell you what, I was hoping I could get to my tee time (Thursday),” Woods said. “I don't know how the USGA is going to do it (when the U.S. Open is played at Congressional in 2011). I'm sure they'll address it. We’ll probably do the same plan the USGA did.”

Note to self: If Congressional traffic is as bad as Bethpage traffic, learn to fly.