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Greenbrier Owner to State: Remove Sponsorship of Tournament

Jim Justice

In disgust over the West Virginia Legislature’s delays to implement a budget, Democratic nominee for governor Jim Justice has asked the state to remove its $1.75 million sponsorship of the PGA Tour’s Greenbrier Classic.

The billionaire owner of The Greenbrier resort made the comments Monday in a statement released by his campaign.

A $270 million gap remains in the state budget for the fiscal year starting July 1. Lawmakers began meeting in special session Monday. Justice’s opponent in November is Republican Senate President Bill Cole.

Justice says he doesn’t want the state’s support for the tournament “to be used as a political football.”

Justice also said this year’s tournament in July would be free and open to the public, although concerts normally held during the tournament won’t occur this year.