Shaquille O'Neal, Tiger woods, Duck Dynasty crew a few noteable names at event Wednesday
By MARCUS CONSTANTINO
Daily Mail Staff
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WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS - A star-studded field of pro-am tournament competitors drew golf fans and autograph-seekers to The Old White TPC at The Greenbrier Wednesday.
The celebrity guests included professional players and coaches from many other sports. New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton and former Los Angeles Lakers head coach Mike D'Antoni golfed alongside PGA Tour pro and Greenbrier Sporting Club resident Bubba Watson and his wife, Angie. A slew of basketball, football and golf fans followed the group around throughout the morning Wednesday, including Anderson Goldman, 11, and Ellie Goldman, 13, of Charleston.
"I like Tuesday and Wednesday because you get autographs, and on Tuesday you get to play some golf," Anderson Goldman said. "Usually we don't stay by Sunday (because) on Wednesday the players will give you autographs and celebrities will be there."
The Greenbrier Classic's Pro-Am pairs PGA Tour golfers with benefactors, junior golfers and celebrities invited by The Greenbrier owner Jim Justice for a round of golf. Many fans like The Greenbrier Classic's Pro-Am day because it's more relaxed: there's less of a crowd than what typically is present during the competition, and photography is allowed so fans can take pictures of their favorite players. Photography is forbidden once the tournament itself begins Thursday.
Tiger Woods, a fan-favorite during his first appearance at The Greenbrier Classic in 2012, teed off from the first hole at 7 a.m. Wednesday in front of a few dozen spectators and reporters. Fog hung over the course and dew covered the grass, and fans who woke up early enough for Tiger's tee time were treated with the rare opportunity to see and hear one of golf's most legendary players up close and personal.
David Gibb, 11, of Marlinton, woke up at 4 a.m. Wednesday so he and his dad, Scott, could see Tiger play The Old White from beginning to end.
"I used to watch him on TV all the time," David Gibb said. "It's really good how he's playing. Sometimes he might have his ups and downs, but it's really cool to watch him."
David and Scott Gibb could hear everything - the conversations between Woods and his caddy, Joe LaCava and the sound of the ball dropping into the cup.
By about 9 a.m., fans had crowded into The Old White TPC and "The Tiger Effect" was in full swing. Though Woods has slumped since 2009, when he cheated on his now ex-wife with multiple mistresses, he still commands a measurable effect on ratings and attendance; the 2014 Masters tournament, in which Woods did not play, put up the lowest TV ratings since 1993. Ratings typically fell about 25 percent on any given tournament Woods didn't play in from 1999-2006, Forbes reported.
Celebrity guests didn't just include sports figures. Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear was paired with Woods, and Jase and Willie Robertson, stars of the popular A&E TV series "Duck Dynasty," drew out fans donning their Duck Dynasty T-shirts and duck calls for the second straight year.
But perhaps the biggest celebrity - literally and figuratively - at The Greenbrier Classic Pro-Am was 7-foot-1-inch Shaquille O'Neal, who won four NBA championships over his 19-year career playing for various teams. O'Neal towered over his teammates, including pro golfer Keegan Bradley, Jim Justice and his son, Jay.
O'Neal nearly fell over on his first attempt at driving the ball from the first hole tee. His second attempt sent the ball a few inches backwards. But his third shot was true; he celebrated with a quick dance on the tee, prompting laughter from the crowd.
"I love the people in West Virginia," O'Neal said. "I love Mr. Justice. He invited me down. I get to see some old friends, Tiger, Bubba, one of my idols over there, Mr. Jerry West.
"This is a nice, peaceful time," O'Neal said. "I always come to The Greenbrier. I come here a lot. You guys just don't know it."
O'Neal shared a golf cart with Justice throughout the pro-am, an arrangement O'Neal poked fun at as he prepared to tee off.
"There's gonna be a lot of pounds in one cart," O'Neal said.
Perhaps no one had a better seat for the action than Tech. Sgt. Anthony Sherrod of the 130th Airlift Wing of the West Virginia Air National Guard, which is based in Charleston. Sherrod said the 130th Airlift Wing has been sending personnel to volunteer at the tournament since it began in 2010. Sherrod has been helping with security at the first tee for the past four years, which has earned him autographs and photos with many players and celebrities who have come through over the years. He was able to meet Woods for the first time Wednesday morning.
"We get to meet a lot of cool people," Sherrod said. "The golfers are down to earth, especially in the first three days. After that it's pretty much business, but the first three days are pretty much the funnest."
Justice has helped funnel millions of dollars into the local and state economy through The Greenbrier Classic, but he told reporters the Classic is only the beginning. Justice announced in April that golf legends Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Lee Trevino are working to jointly design a new mountaintop course that he hopes one day will attract one of the biggest annual golf tournaments.
"We have to design the course to attract the U.S. Open, and how could the (United States Golf Association) turn down those guys and turn down the real birth of golf in America?" Justice asked. "It's here! The first golf course ever is here. The first medal ever given away, ever in golf, in the United States, we have it. And these four guys, can the USGA turn that down? No way."
Justice said the new course, which he hopes to have open by fall 2016, will be "history" - yet another new addition to the resort that can attract professional sports to the Mountain State.
"It's just another step in the progression of the entire resort but what it does, it brings icons of the industry," Justice said. "It brings celebrities of the world to our area, whether it be West Virginia, Roanoke, whatever, it brings icons of our industry here and celebrities here that see the place, see the area, bring their businesses, bring jobs, all kinds of great things."
Gates open at 7 a.m. Thursday for the first round of competition. The Golf Channel will provide live coverage of the first round from 4 to 7 p.m.
Contact writer Marcus Constantino at 304-348-1796 or marcus.c@dailymailwv.com. Follow him at www.twitter.com/amtino.