Golf HOFers Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Lee Trevino at the PGA Tour Greenbrier Classic formally unveiled plans to build a course with resort Owner Jim Justice that is "scheduled for a 2016 opening, with ground being broken next month," and Justice hopes the new course "will eventually host the U.S. Open," according to Cam Huffman of the Beckley REGISTER-HERALD. Palmer said that a "long history with The Greenbrier helped attract him to the project." Palmer: "Jim wants the course to be a U.S. Open venue by 2023, and that's our goal, too." Player added, "I have no doubt that together we will fulfill Jim Justice's lofty goals for this project" (Beckley REGISTER-HERALD, 7/3).
WET HOT AMERICAN SUMMER: In West Virginia, Mitch Vingle wrote with inclement weather hampering the PGA Tour event, fans in attendance "checked their Weather Channel app more than email throughout the week." Vingle: "Credit the fans for still showing up, but the rain affected the field, the outcome." While Tiger Woods entering the event was a "side note" in concept, "he was THE draw." Woods yesterday "strode up the final hole of his round to a jammed gallery." Aside from the "fairway crowds, Woods brought attention to the tournament" with national media coverage from USA Today to ESPN and others (CHARLESTON GAZETTE, 7/6). Also in West Virginia, Rich Stevens noted "thanks to a pair of aces on No. 18, Justice awarded $192,400 in the Hole in One Fan Jackpot contest" on Thursday. Justice also "awarded $25,000 to the charity" of golfer George McNeill’s choice, and $50,000 to golfer Justin Thomas’ "favorite charity." A third hole-in-one "would have resulted in each of the fans receiving $1,000." Thomas said, "There’s not too many places that you can get in the position to do what Mr. Justice is doing, and it’s really cool that he does that" (CHARLESTON DAILY MAIL, 7/3).
CONNECT FORE: West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin said that a deal bringing a $500M Procter & Gamble manufacturing plant to Berkeley County "got its start during discussions at the Greenbrier Classic a few years ago." In West Virginia, Jeff Jenkins noted the state's Department of Commerce and Development Office use the PGA Tour event "to invite site selectors of large companies to West Virginia for one-on-one meetings." The state spends $1.7M in connection with the event, "including a television commercial scheduled to air as part of the weekend coverage on CBS." The Development Office during the week also "hosted a number of receptions at the Greenbrier" (WVMETRONEWS.com, 7/3).
HOST WITH THE MOST: The DAILY MAIL's Stevens wrote the "aura that surrounds Jim Justice is larger than his 6-foot, 7-inch, 350-pound frame." He "saved America’s Resort, persuaded the PGA Tour to award the Greenbrier one of its tournaments [and] managed to get the property’s signature course, the Old White, endorsed as a Tournament Players Club." Then there is the "football facility across the road that houses" the Saints’ training camp and, "at the rear of the Golf Club, the pearly-white clay-surfaced tennis kingdom." Justice has Pete Sampras "as his tennis pro emeritus, he welcomed Andre Agassi to the site last month and has James Blake and former world No. 1 Jim Courier coming in September" (CHARLESTON DAILY MAIL, 7/5).
