New date for Greenbrier Classic?

Will there be a new date for the Greenbrier Classic?

If Greenbrier resort owner Jim Justice gets his way that will be the case.

Wednesday Justice was on a conference call with local officials to talk about the upcoming MOV Amateur Classic and the Purple Banquet, where he is the keynote speaker.

Justice has long been a golf fan and has owned a few courses in southern West Virginia. He was also responsible for bringing the PGA Tour to The Greenbrier last year with the inaugural Greenbrier Classic, held in late July.

Wednesday, Justice said he was heading to Augusta to attend The Masters and meet with PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem. Justice wants to discuss moving the date of The Greenbrier Classic.

Justice said they "very close" to moving The Greenbrier Classic from its late July date to a 4th of July date.

This year, The Greenbrier Classic is set for July 25-31. The July 4 dates on the Tour schedule are The AT&T National June 27-July 3, and the John Deere Classic, July 4-10.

The move would be good for The Greenbrier Classic as it would fall between U.S. and British Open championships.

Last year's event was held the week after the British Open and failed to attract a lot of the Tour's big names. It was also the first time the event was held.

Giving the Classic a little more breathing room from a major could help snag Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods and more of the Tour's other top players to White Sulphur Springs.

Justice also said he is trying to nail down the 2017 Presidents Cup for The Greenbrier. Previously, the resort hosted the 1979 Ryder Cup and the 1994 (LPGA) Solheim Cup. Given the scores put up by players last year - Stuart Appleby won with a 22 under, putting up a final round 59 - I wonder how willing golf officials will be to hold an international event at a course that surrenders par so easily.

Keep in mind Appleby shot a 59 on the day the course is supposed to be the most challenging. And he won by one stroke.

Time will tell.