The pros are coming to White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.
The famed Greenbrier Resort is set for a pair of professional sporting events in June and early July that will showcase some of the best-known names in tennis and golf.
Things kick off on Saturday, June 20th when The Greenbrier unveils its new, state-of-the-art tennis stadium, Center Court at Creekside, America’s newest professional outdoor tennis stadium.
The new stadium takes advantage of its unique location, featuring expansive views of Howard’s Creek, The Old White TPC, home to The Greenbrier Classic PGA TOUR event, and the spectacular mountains nearby.
The 46,000 square foot, U-shaped bowl will feature 2,500 spectator seats, 400 corporate loge seats, professional grade lighting and broadcast ready camera areas. The design incorporates the availability of hospitality tents and additional grandstand seating.
At the June 20th grand opening, The Greenbrier’s Tennis Pro Emeritus, and 14-time Grand Slam winner, Pete Sampras will take on eight-time Grand Slam winner Andre Agassi.
Sampras has played in all three Greenbrier Tennis Classics dating back to 2012. Sampras became the The Greenbrier’s first-ever Tennis Pro Emeritus in April of 2014.
Former world #1, Agassi has been referred to by many as one of the most dominant tennis players in the history of the game.
Agassi and Sampras first met at a Grand Slam final in the 1990 US Open. The two went on to play each other 34 times in a 12-year span, with Sampras winning 20 of the matches. The Agassi-Sampras rivalry is widely known as one of the greatest sports face-offs.
Later that same evening, Grammy Award winning group Earth, Wind and Fire will perform in concert at the tennis facility.
Nine days after the debut of the tennis facility, the focus at The Greenbrier will switch from rackets to flagsticks as the sixth annual Greenbrier Classic PGA TOUR event gets underway for the week-long swing that culminates with the presentation of the The Springhouse Trophy to the winner on Sunday, July 5th.
Throughout the tournament week, special events highlight the action, both on the greens and on the stage.
Tuesday, June 30th is Youth Day at the tournament, where First Tee chapters from Roanoke and West Virginia enjoy a day of activities including a special luncheon hosted by Greenbrier owner Jim Justice, a clinic on the driving range and the always popular First Tee Scramble, a 3-hole scramble format that partners First Tee members with a PGA TOUR Pro, playing for a nifty $10,000 prize that benefits the chapters.
Wednesday, July 1st brings the Greenbrier Classic Pro-Am, where spectators get the opportunity to see celebrities, noted sports figures and many of the PGA TOUR pros up close. It’s definitely the day for autographs as the players try to conquer The Old White TPC.
Things get serious as the 4-day, 72-hole tournament begins on Thursday as the field competes for the Greenbrier purse that exceeds one million dollars.
There’s always one thing that’s predictable at The Classic. When it comes to the golf, nothing is predictable.
Stuart Appleby got the trend going in the inaugural event in 2010 when he shot a final-round 59. Appleby finished with a staggering four-round total of 22-under par, still only good for a one-shot win over runner-up Jeff Overton.
That led to minor alterations to The Old White, and the renowned course which had bee home to the Ryder Cup in 1979. the LPGA Solheim Cup in 1994 and the PGA’s Champions Tour from 1985-87 showed it still had plenty of kick.
That led to the winning four-round score dropping to minus-10 the following year as PGA rookie Scott Stallings birdied the signature par-3 18th hole to force a three-way playoff, then repeat the deuce 30 minutes later to defeat Bob Estes and Bill Haas
Ted Potter, Jr. followed as the tournament winner in 2012 after an eagle-birdie finish in regulation led to a 3-hole playoff victory. Jonas Blixt won in a rain-delayed final round in 2013 that led to the Springhouse Trophy being presented in virtual darkness, and Angel Cabrera won in 2014 with thew second-best 4-round score in tournament history, minus-16.
Superstar Phil Mickelson has played in The Classic three times, missing the 36-hole cut all three. Fourteen-time major winner Tiger Woods competed in 2012, but likewise missed the cut in his first attempt against The Old White.
Woods is scheduled to return this year, along with 2-time Masters Champion Bubba Watson, 2012 FedExCup champ Brandt Snedeker and Major championship winner Webb Simpson.
Tournament week also means great entertainment at The Greenbrier Classic Concert Series
On Wednesday, July 1st, Keith Urban and The Band Perry hit the stage in Lewisburg for an 8:00 concert. Friday, July 3rd brings Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter Miranda Lambert, reigning 5-time ACM Female Vocalist of the Year to the Lewisburg stage at 8:00 pm, followed by Blake Shelton, who has had 19 #1 country singles, at 9:30.
Bill Turner
