WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. - The sixth annual Greenbrier Classic has a slightly different indirect flavor. It marks the first year the PGA Tour event will be played with a different Greenbrier head professional behind the scenes.
World Golf Hall of Fame member and Tom Watson - who had been the resort's pro emeritus since 2006 - and the Greenbrier cut ties earlier this year, making way for resort owner Jim Justice to line up Lee Trevino, a 1981 inductee into the Hall of Fame.
The affable Trevino was on hand Monday during the Greenbrier Classic media day at the Greenbrier Golf Club's Champions Room.
The formal announcement of the annual Classic, which is contracted for the Old White TPC through 2021, could see its sixth different champion when the tournament unfolds on July 2.
Trevino won't be playing in the Classic, like Watson has in four of the Classics.
However, the 74-year-old will spend 70 days during the summer at the resort to give lessons, something Watson didn't do.
Trevino said he "eats, sleeps, breathes, and dreams golf." And the popular and witty golf star, who seems to always be quick with a joke, said, "I can't wait to wake up in the morning to see what I have to say."
As well as Watson, Trevino follows the Greenbrier's first pro emeritus and World Golf Hall of Fame member Sam Snead.
"I can't follow in his footsteps," Trevino said of Snead. "Those shoes are way too big. No way I can fill Sam Snead's shoes. I'm thrilled to death to be here. Sam was probably the greatest ball striker who ever lived. Great athlete, self-taught. The Greenbrier was blessed to have him here for so many years. He was a great human being and we owe him a lot, both of us. They didn't really make any money playing golf, and they chased it and they chased it. They drove their cars, slept in their cars and kept golf alive."
The media day also was the forum to reveal the latest commitments to the Classic.
The players to announce their intentions to play in the Classic are a pair of four-time PGA Tour champions in J.B. Holmes and Patrick Reed. Reed played in four PGA Tour events in 2012 via Monday qualifiers. That year, he played in the Greenbrier Classic Monday qualifier, but failed to earn a spot. He finished in a tie for 26th at the 2014 Classic. Holmes shot four rounds under par at the Old White TPC, but finished tied for 23rd.
Other additions to the 2015 field are Paul Casey, Hideki Matsuyama and Louis Oosthuizen. Casey, of the United Kingdom, has one PGA Tour championship. Matsuyama, the leading money winner on the Japan Golf Tour in 2013, also has one PGA Tour win. The South African, Oosthuizen, won the 2010 British Open and finished as runner-up at the 2012 Masters. He was fourth in the Official World Golf Ranking in 2013. Oosthuizen tied for 17th at the 2013 Classic.
"We're reaching out across different ponds to bring in players who haven't been here. It keeps echoing in the different corners about the Greenbrier, the course, the people," Justice said of the commitments.
Justice, who credits West Virginians with helping bring players back to the Classic, said he had an experience during the 2012 Pro-Am with Tiger Woods, who is committed to this year's event despite not making the cut three years ago.
"I never forget Tiger Woods, two things happened that were really neat," he said. "We were on the 12th hole, par 5, and he hit it 50 miles off the tee. I played 500 rounds of golf here with Sam Snead and he could melt it. I can't remember, I'm serious, I could never remember him hitting that green in two and we played from the tips every time. There (Tiger) hits his second shot, it's a 5-wood, and hits it like a feather into the middle of the green. He got about 150 yards from the green, true as it could be, and says, 'Dag, there's those big pine trees up there by the green.' It was amazing to me that he's standing there, looking at the shot, seeing that green. He didn't miss a shot other than the first shot. I said nobody could play golf with this guy."
Woods' acknowledgment of the crowd also impressed Justice.
"On about the 16th hole and we're walking, he says, 'What is the deal with these people?' I'm thinking, 'What in the world is going on here?' He said, 'These people are nice to me, inviting and so warm.' That's probably uncharacteristic of Tiger's personality."
Woods didn't make the cut in 2012, but will hope to hold up the trophy at the conclusion of the 72-hole FedEx Cup points event.
The Classic's five champions were Stuart Appleby (2010), who shot a 59 in the final round; Scott Stallings (2011), Ted Potter Jr. (2012), Jonas Blixt (2013) and Angel Cabrera (2014).
The tournament week begins with practice rounds on June 29-30 and the Pro-Am on July 1. The tournament proper begins on July 2 at the par 70 Old White TPC.
Contact Assistant Sports Editor Rich Stevens at richstevens@dailymailwv.com or 304-348-4837. Follow him on Twitter @richdailymail.