The mud and the grieving in the wake of the flooding in Greenbrier County were simply too much for the Greenbrier Classic, which was canceled Saturday.
PGA Tour officials announced the cancellation eight days in advance of practice rounds that were scheduled to begin July 4. The seventh edition of the tournament was to conclude July 10.
The Tour’s announcement said the Old White TPC course “suffered extensive damage from the flooding, and is beyond reasonable repair to conduct the tournament.”
The Greenbrier Classic has been cancelled due to severe flooding. https://t.co/BQBgyfKcET pic.twitter.com/KN4pFw2yxg
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 25, 2016
But that seemed secondary to top Tour officials.
“Canceling the Greenbrier Classic is certainly the most prudent course of action, as our foremost concern is the well-being of those who are having to live through this tragic situation,” said commissioner Tim Finchem. “Our thoughts and prayers are with them.”
The Greenbrier closed Friday until further notice, and the resort is putting all its resources into helping its White Sulphur Springs neighbors and the rest of the county. The Neighbors Loving Neighbors food drive began long before Thursday’s 9-inch rains, but that has turned into an all-out flood relief effort.
Greenbrier Care and The Greenbrier Clinic extended their hours through the weekend.
Offers of assistance have come from celebrities across the nation, some who would have come for the July 6 pro-am. They include NBA legend Charles Barkley, NFL star Larry Fitzgerald, Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher, golfers Phil MIckelson, Bubba Watson and Keegan Bradley, plus Lee Trevino, the resort’s pro emeritus.
Postponement of the Greenbrier Classic wasn’t an option. Even if the Tour and the resort wanted to play the tournament on another week, there is no room on the PGA schedule.
And given the gravity of the situation, there was no sentiment for playing it at another venue.
“The PGA Tour assessed it with Mr. [Jim] Justice, and they felt [cancellation] was the right thing to do, given what has happened in the state of West Virginia,” said Habibi Mamone, the tournament’s executive director.
The Tour’s last cancellation without a single tee shot played came in 2009 at the Viking Classic in Madison, Mississippi. Drenched by 20 inches of rain over the previous six weeks, the course there was rendered unplayable by more rains.
But White Sulphur Springs got nearly half that rain in a matter of hours Thursday, and Howard’s Creek overwhelmed the town, the resort and beyond.
Hope @The_Greenbrier drys out soon!! #GreenbrierClassic #hole18-17-1 pic.twitter.com/n2HRUTYpw7
— bubba watson (@bubbawatson) June 23, 2016
At this weekend’s Tour stop, the Quicken Loans National in Bethesda, Maryland, the overwhelming theme from the players was their concern for the people of West Virginia.
“There will be a lot of help from the players and the PGA Tour,” said Erik Compton. “We’re not worried about losing the golf tournament. We have to get the community back. There will be plenty of time for golf later.”
Contact Doug Smock at 304-348-5130 or dougsmock@wvgazettemail.com. Follow him on Twitter @dougsmock and read his blog at http://blogs.wvgazettemail.com/dougsmock/. Golf writer Jerry Porter contributed from Bethesda, Maryland.