WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — The Greenbrier Classic won’t be the only championship decided on the Old White TPC this year.
Nick Faldo announced Tuesday that his Faldo Series Grand Final—matching up youth champions from Europe and Asia—will be staged at the Greenbrier in October. The six-time major champion said he anticipates inviting about 20 of the top American golfers between the ages of 13 and 21.
Faldo launched his youth series in 1996, and it now boasts more than 7,000 golfers in 31 countries. Among its most famous alumni are Rory McIlroy and Yani Tseng.
“The Faldo Series is an incredibly impressive effort,” said Greenbrier Resort owner Jim Justice. “The Greenbrier looks forward to providing a setting for history as tomorrow’s champions include a championship visit to the Old White TPC in their journey.”
In future years, American champions will have an opportunity visit Mission Hills in China.
“I think that’s where I’ve given the youngsters just a bit of experience—throw them in the deep end.,” Faldo said. “Coming from Europe or flying to China, you’re basically playing golf when you should be fast asleep. Sure, they miss their tee times—all sorts of things like that—and that’s all part of the learning curve. I think any kid at 15, 16 getting this experience has got to be a good thing.”
GREENBRIER MEMORIES
Recalling 1979 when he came to Greenbrier with the European Ryder Cup team, Faldo joked of being intimidated by the resort.
“To be honest, the hotel scared me,” he said. ” I’d never been to a hotel that big in my life. I mean, the corridors, when you say my room is down there, it’s a 3‑wood and a 7‑iron just to get to my room.”
Some 34 years later, Faldo is building what he called “a small cabin on the hill”—though Justice suggested there is more square footage and amenities than Faldo admits.
“Don’t believe ‘small cabin,'” Justice said.
Added Faldo: “I was in love with the place before, but have fallen more in love with it now. Yeah, I think it’s a really special spot, simple as that. I’m enjoying this being my second home.”
ANCHORED DEBATE
Like Justice, Faldo backed the PGA’s decision to outlaw anchored putters.
“I can understand and see what we want you to do, really go back to the original intentions of the game,” he said. “It’s called a golf swing, not a golf hinge. That was the way it was intended to golf, both hands.”
Faldo said younger players gravitated toward long putters once the uncool stigma was no longer attached to them.
“A lot of college kids, that’s the only putter they’ve ever seen, so that will be quite a serious transition for them. The guys on Tour who’ve gone through it because they’re just always experimenting, I don’t think it’s quite as dangerous.”