The big stories entering the AT&T National involve who’s not teeing it up at Congressional this week. Tournament host Tiger Woods, of course, is out with an elbow injury, and U.S. Open champion Justin Rose has withdrawn due to (entirely understandable) fatigue.

Regardless, there will be plenty of talent competing for the $1.17 million winner’s share this week, including Masters champion Adam Scott. And talent will be needed to conquer the Deveraux Emmett design, where the scoring average was 73.046 for last year’s field, 2.046 strokes above par.

Indeed, when the PGA Tour returned to the 7,569-yard, par-71 layout after two years at Aronimink (2010-11), the course had become something of a bully. Last year’s winning score (8-under) was the highest in the history of the competition.

At Congressional, golfers must hit greens, as scrambling is difficult at the track. Unfortunately, finding greens in regulation is a tall order, as well — the field average was 59 percent last year. Putting can be nightmarish close to the hole, too. Thus, the PGA Tour’s best will have to be at their best this week.

Here are a few players who could win the Tiger-less AT&T National.

Adam Scott: 10-1 odds

The Masters winner is the best bet (according to the oddsmakers) to capture his 10th PGA Tour title this week. He finished third at Congressional last year and has finished inside the top 20 twice since donning the green jacket. Were it not for a lackluster performance at the U.S. Open (T45), the Aussie would present with even better odds.

Jason Day: 12-1 odds

Another Australian who has been in fine form this year, Jason Day finished inside the top 10 at last year’s AT&T National. Not only is the golfer adept at handling the Bethesda, Md., layout, he’s coming off a standout performance at the U.S. Open, where he finished tied for second. He finished second in the U.S. Open at Congressional in 2011, too.

Brandt Snedeker: 16-1 odds

Now receiving injections to combat the bone condition, which has led to his recurrent rib injuries, Brandt Snedeker, and his golf game, appear to be on the mend. Following a top-20 finish at the U.S. Open, Snedeker has righted the ship after two missed cuts. Certainly, he has all the tools to win this week and appears to be well enough to do so.

Hunter Mahan: 16-1 odds

Although he couldn’t ride the momentum of his blistering opening-round 62 at last week’s Travelers Championship to victory, Hunter Mahan played well throughout the rest of the tournament. He is comfortable at Congressional, and he finished inside the top 10 at the National last year. One of the best drivers of the golf ball on Tour, Mahan has a great shot at winning this week.

Billy Horschel: 20-1

The octopus-pants clad Horschel played well in the final round of the U.S. Open en route to a T4 finish. Really, anything other than a meltdown would have been a victory for Horschel in his first major as a professional. He’s a quality driver of the ball and hits nearly 68 percent of greens in regulation, and is adaptable to new venues (as his play at Merion suggests).

Rickie Fowler: 20-1

Rickie Fowler finished off the Travelers Championship with an impressive final-round 64. If he can keep his quality play from last week and the U.S. Open up, he hits the ball straight enough (64 percent of fairways) to contend this week.

Bo Van Pelt: 25-1

Outdone by Tiger Woods on Sunday last year, Bo Van Pelt hasn’t been great this year. The Indiana native is, however, a horse for the course and could reprise his fine play from 2012.

Graham DeLaet: 28-1

Fresh off last week’s third-place finish at the Travelers Championship, the Canadian returns to a venue where he made the cut last year. DeLaet is leading the Tour in greens in regulation. He’s ninth in driving distance, which will help him considerably at one of the longest tracks on Tour.

Jim Furyk: 33-1

After a miserable missed cut at the U.S. Open, the 5-Hour Energy pitchman is due for a rebound at Congressional where he finished tied for 34th last year. Certainly, Furyk is accurate enough to contend, even though he averages only 275 yards off the tee. If his putter — which has been his undoing over the past couple of seasons — holds up, the 43-year-old could make a run at victory.

Bill Haas: 40-1

Haas, who has missed three of his last four cuts, hasn’t been on the best of streaks lately. However, he hits a lot of greens in regulation and is an adept scrambler when he doesn’t. A proven winner at tough venues, Haas could fly under the radar to victory this week.

Charles Howell III: 50-1

A dark horse pick this week: Charles Howell III. Chucky Three Sticks blew up at Congressional last year, shooting a final-round 80. Prior to that, though, he’d played quality golf. His accuracy off the tee will be an issue this week, as he hits little more than 50 percent of fairways. However, he’s 10th in strokes gained-putting and second in scrambling. CH III could surprise at Congressional.

*odds according to Bovada