Greenbrier Classic Kicks Off With Blockbuster Field

14-Time major winner Tiger Woods returns to the field this week as The Greenbrier Classic kicks off its week-long PGA TOUR event in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.
14-Time major winner Tiger Woods returns to the field this week as The Greenbrier Classic kicks off its week-long PGA TOUR event in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.

The field is set for the 6th annual Greenbrier Classic PGA TOUR stop in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, and Greenbrier Resort owner Jim Justice has pulled all the stops to make sure the week-long event spells out one common denominator.

There will be plenty of fun and action in ‘Wild and Wonderful’ West Virginia.

The historic resort, less than a two hour drive from Roanoke, will play host to many of the best professional golfers in the world June 29th through July 5th, when the sixth champion will be crowned.

Played over the par-70, 7287 yard Old White TPC nestled in the middle of the 6.750-plus acre resort located in the scenic Alleghany Mountains, The Classic has established itself as one of the top PGA TOUR stops on the circuit.

The Old White TPC, the oldest course on the current PGA TOUR schedule, always provides plenty of surprises and plenty of opportunities for spectators that love to see the red numbers.

“Fans like to see birdies, and that’s what The Old White provides,” Justice says. “But, the course can be tricky if you’re not careful. You’ve got to let the course come to you. If you attack it, the course can eat you up.”

With a final qualifier at Glade Springs on Monday for four spots, the field of 156 will be set for the formal 72-hole competition that will begin on Thursday. But, there’s plenty of action before the battle for the $ 6.7 million purse and $1.206 million winner’s share begins.

This year’s field includes 13 major championship winners, representing 31 major titles.

Headlining the lineup will be 14-time major winner Tiger Woods, who will return to The Old White for the first time since 2012 where he failed to make the 36-hole cut. It should prove to be equally challenging for Woods in 2015 after he struggled mightily in his last two events, The Memorial and The U.S. Open, shooting rounds in the 80s and missing the cut in both.

One player who comes to White Sulphur Springs on a roll is two-time Masters winner Bubba Watson, fresh off a win this past weekend in the Travelers Championship where Watson defeated another Greenbrier entrant, Paul Casey, in a 2-hole playoff.

Other big names to watch include Louis Oosthuizen, Vijay Singh, Davis Love III and Webb Simpson, along with defending champion Angel Cabrera and former Greenbrier winners Jonas Blixt and Scott Stallings.

Another fan favorite, the flamboyant 2-time major winner John Daly, also joins the field undoubtably in an array of Loudmouth fashion.

The fun gets underway on Tuesday, June 30th as Youth Day takes center stage. Along with practice rounds by the pros, the Youth Day clinic begins at 1:30 on the first fairway of the Meadows Course where a surprise PGA Pro will demonstrate shots to spectators and numerous members of First Tee chapters from Roanoke and West Virginia. Following at 3pm will be the 3-hole First Tee Scramble, pitting Roanoke and West Virginia First Tee members with two PGA Pros for a $10,000 purse to benefit the chapters.

Wednesday brings the Greenbrier Pro-Am to The Old White, where sports celebrities highlight the day’s event. Little doubt one of the biggest, and tallest at 7′-1″, participants this year will be 14-time NBA All-Star Shaquille O’Neal.

Justice has also ensured fans the opportunity to come away big winners. Thursday-Sunday one fan each day will win a new Ford in the Ford Giveaway registration on the 12th hole. And, the popular Hole-In-One Fan Jackpot returns in 2015 where spectators seated in the bleachers or lawn areas surrounding the signature par-3 18th hole get a cash payout of $100 for the first hole-in-one, $500 for the second, and $1,000 for the third ace of the day. Last year Bud Cauley rang up the cash for the fans when his 7-iron found the jar on the final hole.

“We want people to have fun,” Justice says. “This is a celebration. This is America’s Resort and the Fourth of July is America’s holiday.”

The Greenbrier Concert Series brings the best of music to the Lewisburg Fairgrounds this year. On Wednesday night at 8:00 pm, Keith Urban & The Band Perry take to the stage. Friday night at 8, Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton headline the Concert Series

A grounds badge is available through The Greenbrier website and includes admittance to the tournament grounds for the entire week and one lawn seating ticket to each of the Concert Series performances. Badges also allow admittance to the hotel, its restaurants, shuttle facilities and the Greenbrier Casino.

From Roanoke take Route 220 North to Clifton Forge, then I-64 West to Lewisburg (Exit 169) , left on Rt. 219 through Lewisburg for approximately 3 miles to the fairgrounds parking lot. Shuttles take spectators to the golf course entrance at the resort.

Bill Turner

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