WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — The man known as “The Logo” says Greenbrier Resort owner Jim Justice has left his own mark on West Virginia with The Greenbrier Classic.
“Jim Justice deserves a lot of credit for bringing these great guys in here and, obviously, to have bigger names here really helps in terms of having people come out and watch the tournament,” said Jerry West.
“I think it’s really a chance to showcase what a beautiful state this is but, more importantly, how nice the people are here.”
West, who makes The Greenbrier his home part of the time, was a guest on Friday’s MetroNews “Talkline” which was broadcasting from Greenbrier County for this year’s PGA Tour event.
West was taking in parts of the competition Thursday and Friday. In particular, he was following the ups and downs of Phil Mickelson.
“That’s how golf is,” said West. “It’s a great game. It’s an incredible test of your will and your character and also the ability to get it in the hole.”
After making his name excelling in basketball, West said his love of golf is about a different experience. “Everything you do is incumbent on you to do it and it’s not incumbent on someone else to help you,” he said.
West is a Kanawha County native who set records at West Virginia University and with the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA. He led the U.S. Olympic team to a gold medal in 1960 before becoming an NBA front-office executive.
West now splits his time between the Greenbrier Valley and San Francisco, where he is part of the executive staff for the Golden State Warriors, a team that was among those trying to recruit all-star center Dwight Howard.