WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — (April 16, 2020): The Greenbrier resort announced today that due to the COVID-19 worldwide pandemic, it and the PGA TOUR have made a decision to not conduct The 2020 A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier, scheduled for September 7-13, 2020. This decision was made collaboratively between the two organizations. It is quite possible that, due to the virus, those dates will be used for another PGA TOUR event. Those details will be announced by the PGA TOUR.
Additionally, The Greenbrier and the PGA TOUR have elected to cancel A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier for the remaining years of the contract, which was previously planned to run through 2026. The tournament moving to the fall has not served The Greenbrier as well as the event did in prior years when it was hosted over the July 4th week. With kids being back in school, the attractiveness for sponsors and the attendance for the fans dropped significantly.
“We are happy to reach a resolution with the PGA TOUR that is mutually beneficial to both parties in this time of crisis,” said Dr. Jill Justice, President of The Greenbrier.
As people from all over the world know, A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier showcased the best of West Virginia. During its early years, the predecessor event, The Greenbrier Classic, was voted “Best in Class” and voted “Best Special Event” by the players. Most of all, the tournament gave all West Virginians an opportunity to show West Virginia’s greatness on the world stage.
“We owe a supreme debt of gratitude to Governor Jim Justice and his Greenbrier resort for a highly successful 10 years of partnership with the PGA TOUR,” said Andy Pazder, Executive Vice President and Chief of Operations for the PGA TOUR. “Governor Justice’s vision and leadership helped shine a light on the men and women that serve our country through the military and first responder programs he implemented through the tournament, and The Greenbrier resort was an incredibly unique and world-class venue that our players will always remember and cherish.”
The tournament also brought some of the top musical performers in the world to the Greenbrier Valley as part of The Greenbrier Classic Concert Series. Some of those entertainers included Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, Reba McEntire, The Black Eyed Peas, Tim McGraw, Keith Urban, Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, Kenny Chesney, Jimmy Buffett, Lionel Richie, Maroon 5, Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert and many others.
“From the best players in golf, to the biggest musical acts in the world, the tournament gave West Virginians an opportunity to experience these great events at home. Golf fans from all over the world were able to see the best of our state. It was a real positive for showing West Virginia in one of its brightest lights. Our people were able to take pride in the tournament, and it belonged to every West Virginian,” said Dr. Justice.
The Greenbrier’s rich golf history dates back more than a century and has included some of the biggest names and events in the sport. Those who have played the world-class courses at America’s Resort include Sam Snead, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, Nick Faldo, Tom Watson, Phil Mickelson, Bubba Watson, Tiger Woods and many more. The Greenbrier has hosted both the Ryder Cup (1979) and Solheim Cup (1994), as well as a PGA TOUR Champions event, The Greenbrier American Express Championship.
The nearly 2,000 Ladies and Gentlemen of The Greenbrier want to thank the great people of West Virginia, the PGA TOUR, the U.S. Military relief organizations, The First Responders Children’s Foundation, the amazing sponsors, the wonderful professional players, the dedicated volunteers, and all that helped make the last 10 years of this event a world-class success.
About A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier
A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier, formerly The Greenbrier Classic, is an annual PGA TOUR event that began in 2010 on the historic Old White TPC Course on the grounds of The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va. One of the most popular family events on the PGA TOUR, the tournament has drawn top-level golfers including Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Jordan Spieth, Tom Watson, Nick Faldo, Dustin Johnson, Justin Thomas, Sergio Garcia, Bubba Watson and many others to the famed grounds of The Greenbrier. Past champions include Stuart Appleby, Scott Stallings, Ted Potter Jr., Jonas Blixt, Angel Cabrera, Danny Lee, Xander Schauffele, Kevin Na and Joquin Niemann.
About The Greenbrier
The Greenbrier is a luxury mountain resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. With a history dating back to 1778, the 710 perfectly-appointed Signature Resort Rooms, Classic and Historic Suites, Legacy Cottages and Estate Homes are situated on The Greenbrier’s breathtaking 11,000-acre playground. Play championship golf courses or experience more than 55 activities. America’s only private casino features table games, slot machines and FanDuel Sportsbook. The Greenbrier’s full-service mineral spa is widely recognized as one of the most luxurious in the world, and the Retail Collection is comprised of 36 boutiques, shops and hand-crafted works of art. The Greenbrier Restaurant Collection includes 20 restaurants, cafés and lounges. The Greenbrier Clinic has been practicing diagnostic medicine since 1948, and The Greenbrier Sporting Club is the pinnacle of luxury real estate. Follow The Greenbrier on Facebook at The Greenbrier, on Twitter at @the_greenbrier or on Instagram at the_greenbrier.
