The Greenbrier Agrees To Six-Year Deal To Host PGA Tour Event

The Greenbrier To Host PGA Tour Event For Next Six Years

The Greenbrier Owner Jim Justice yesterday announced that the West Virginia resort will host a PGA Tour event "for the next six years," according to Andrew Clevenger of the CHARLESTON GAZETTE. The Greenbrier Classic will run next year from July 29-August 1 with a purse of $6M, and competitors "will play on The Old White course, one of three courses at the resort." West Virginia Delegate Ray Canterbury said that Justice was "able to land the event only after Buick, which had sponsored the Buick Open in Michigan and the Buick Invitational in California, became part of the restructuring of bankrupt parent company" GM (CHARLESTON GAZETTE, 8/6). Justice said that the resort "will be the main sponsor of the event." Justice: "I'm so pleased this is in the FedEx tier. The tier is at the top and that's where we need to be. I strive for this to be the very best on the tour." Justice added he hopes golfers Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and "everyone comes here." West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin said that he would "hand deliver the invitation to Woods himself, if that's what it takes" (Charleston DAILY MAIL, 8/6). In West Virginia, Dave Morrison notes Justice was "able to get the tournament at The Greenbrier in just six weeks," as he "began pursuing the event not long after his purchase of The Greenbrier in May." The Greenbrier will form a "separate non-profit charitable organization to serve as the tournament operator" (Beckley REGISTER-HERALD, 8/6). USA TODAY's Steve DiMeglio reports future dates of the event have "yet to be determined," but PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem said that he "envisioned the tournament as ideal for the midsummer" (USA TODAY, 8/6). Meanwhile, in West Virginia, Rick Ryan reports the Nationwide Tour event at the Pete Dye Golf Club in Bridgeport, West Virginia, which has been "one of the more prominent stops on that minor league circuit," reportedly will "no longer be held in order to concentrate" on The Greenbrier Classic (CHARLESTON GAZETTE, 8/6).

SPONSOR TALKS: In Akron, Tom Gaffney notes Bridgestone's contract to title sponsor the PGA Tour Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club expires after next year's event, and Finchem said that "talks with all sponsors are ongoing, including with Bridgestone." Tournament Exec Dir Don Padgett III last month said that officials were "in negotiations with Bridgestone." Meanwhile, Finchem said that he "has never seen a year during his tenure with such upheaval in sponsorships." Finchem: "There's such volatility, there's a surprise every few weeks. One day you wake up and Stanford (Financial) imploded, they're not a company any more. But I'm very positive about things because we seem to be navigating effectively" (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 8/6). Meanwhile, Finchem said that the Tour will "continue to talk to Buick." He added the Tour also will be "working for a solution for San Diego," which had been home to the Buick Invitational (N.Y. TIMES, 8/6).

COULD BE WORSE: ESPN.com's Bob Harig reported the PGA Tour schedule "remains full ... other than a Fall Series event sponsored by Ginn and the opposite event to the British Open in Milwaukee sponsored by U.S. Bank." And while "many people are taking pay cuts, losing jobs, seeing benefits cut," PGA Tour players have seen purses "rise this year over 2008." Still, there "will be issues going forward," as "no PGA Tour event can exist much longer without a title sponsor." The $7M-plus price tag for "operating a tournament today is simply too much for a local, nonprofit entity to raise." Harig noted the Bob Hope Classic "will likely go on in 2010 without Chrysler's involvement," and FBR's sponsorship of the FBR Open in Phoenix is "one of at least 10 deals that will expire after their events conclude in 2010." Harig: "There's been plenty of upheaval, but all in all, it could be worse" (ESPN.com, 8/5).