This week the PGA Tour makes a happy return to West Virginia for The Greenbrier Classic. In 2016, the TOUR had to cancel the tournament due to devastating flooding caused by record rainfalls throughout West Virginia on June 23. The Old White TPC underwent extensive damage from the flooding and TOUR officials determined it was beyond reasonable repair.
However, The Old White TPC has bounced back in remarkable fashion. The greens are certainly rolling true, as Titleist golf ball loyalist Sebastian Munoz (Pro V1) proved in the opening round.
Munoz fired a sizzling 61 on Thursday to take the overnight lead. He’s continuing to play well, adding four more birdies and extending his lead to five shots at the time of this writing. The 24-year-old Colombian has birdied 14 of the first 27 holes he’s played so far.
“The conditions are great,” Munoz said after his Thursday round. “The greens were rolling awesome.”
Munoz beat his previous low score on TOUR (a 63 in Memphis) by two strokes and he credited a putting tip he received from a fellow TOUR pro.
Munoz explained, “He told me, ‘Hey, man, just look at the front of the ball and just try to make contact with it’. Just so I don't kind of like push it. Just make a good flow.
“Somehow my eyes were tracking where my putter was going, you know, trying really hard to be a perfect stroke type of thing. So, yeah, it worked. I just did that and it was the only thing I was thinking about.”
With friendly scoring conditions and no signs of Munoz letting up, the 59 watch may be on this week at TPC Old White. However, a host of Titleist Brand Ambassadors and golf ball loyalists are have crowded near the top of the leaderboard in hot pursuit of the fast early pace.
Good luck to all of Team Titleist this weekend at The Greenbrier Classic!
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TITLEIST BY THE NUMBERS
This week at The Greenbrier Classic, Titleist is once again the overwhelming golf ball choice, with 114 players trusting a Titleist Pro V1 or Pro V1x golf ball, more than seven times the nearest competitor with 15 and more than all competitors combined.
Titleist was also the top choice among players in the hybrids category (31) as well as the irons category with 47 sets in play. Vokey Design Wedges also topped the approach, sand and lob wedge (223) category and Scotty Cameron putters were the top choice among players with 68 putters in play.
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FAST FACTS:
- The 2016 Greenbrier Classic was the first PGA TOUR event cancelled and not rescheduled since the 2009 Sanderson Farms Championship, when heavy rains resulted in unplayable conditions.
- The course record at The Old White TPC is 59, shot in the final round by the 2010 Greenbrier Classic champion. It’s one of nine sub-60 scores recorded in PGA TOUR history.
- The Greenbrier's original of three courses, the re-named The Old White TPC, will host The Greenbrier Classic for the seventh time since 2010. Originally designed by Charles Blair MacDonald in 1914, The Old White TPC has been restored to its original design by Lester George since the inaugural Greenbrier Classic in 2010. In addition to the restoration, the course now measures 7,287 yards, an increase of 256 yards from 2010.
- After the flood of 2016, the golf course was closed and completely restored by noted architect Keith Foster. While the routing plan and hole concepts were retained, every green complex was rebuilt. New grasses were introduced to the greens, fairways and bunkers faces, while trees were selectively thinned to reintroduce unbelievable views and sight lines not seen for decades.
- The Greenbrier is an award-winning resort located in the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia. As a National Historic Landmark, The Greenbrier's classic architecture, interior design, scenic beauty and excellent amenities have hosted distinguished guests from around the world since 1778.
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PLAYERS TO WATCH:
- Titleist Brand Ambassador Webb Simpson (Pro V1x) finished solo-third in 2014 for his third top-10 finish at The Greenbrier Classic (MC-2010, T9-2011, T7-2012, T41-2013, 3-2014, MC-2015).
- Titleist Pro V1 loyalist Charles Howell III (T9-2010, T32-2011, MC-2012, MC-2013, T52-2014, MC-2015) played all 72 holes at the 2010 Greenbrier Classic without a bogey, is coming off of a runer-up finish last week at the Quicken Loans National (won in a playoff by Titleist Pro V1 loyalist Kyle Stanley). Howell enters the week No. 18 in the FedExCup standings.
- After missing the cut in his first three starts at The Greenbrier Classic (2011, 2012, 2014), Titleist Pro V1 loyalist Kevin Kisner finished T2 in 2015 (one of six runner-up finishes on the PGA TOUR). Kisner owns two wins on the PGA TOUR - the 2015 RSM Classic and the 2017 DEAN & DELUCA Invitational.
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SOCIAL BUZZ:
Welcome to the 2017 Greenbrier Classic!
A quiet moment earlier this week from Titleist Brand Ambassador Zac Blair (Pro V1).
Like many players, Titleist Brand Ambassador Jimmy Walker (Pro V1x) brought the whole family to The Greenbrier this week.
Titleist Brand Ambassador Patton Kizzire (Pro V1x) celebrated Independence at The Greenbrier.
A Round 1 highlight from Titleist golf ball loyalist Davis Love III (Pro V1x).
Bowling may not be Peter Malnati’s game, but the Titleist Brand Ambassador will always have golf.
Lots of circles on the scorecard for Round 1 leader, Titleist golf ball loyalist Sebastian Munoz (Pro V1).
Good luck to all of Team Titleist this weekend at The Greenbrier Classic!
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