Greenbrier Classic Preview: 10 Players to Watch

They should have called the 2010 Greenbrier Classic the Twitter Open.  

There were tweets (as in birdies) aplenty at the Old White Course in White Sulphur Springs, WV.  

The short layout and receptive greens made the tournament memorable for the step-on-the-accelerator play by Stuart Appleby, winning with a record-closing 59.  

On the eve of this year's event, Tom Watson said, "There will not be any 59s this year."  

With that declaration, the 2011 Greenbrier Classic kicks off its second year as a family-oriented PGA Tour event and rock-and-roll spectacle.    

As with anything owner and chairman Jim Justice does, and with the encouragement of PGA Tour officials, he's tweaked the playing field.  

Tee boxes were moved back, greens were changed, fairways were narrowed and the Old White Course at the resort—known for its single bunker for dignitaries in the hotel—now has multiple bunkers on the course, earning reputations.

Phil Mickelson, fresh off his wind break from the Open Championship, will be on-campus at the Greenbrier with his family.  

He will play in the first two rounds with Watson and Appleby—the Mega-A pairing for the week.  

When Justice was asked who was tougher to attract to his remote resort, his answer was simple.  "Oh, the Black-Eyed Peas by far—Mickelson was easy."  

This will be Mickelson's first trip to the Greenbrier.  Justice said the reason for Mickelson arriving at his PGA Tour stop was "family, family, family." 

And so, with the Indianapolis Colts center Jeff Saturday lighting the wick of the family theme earlier this week, the tradition continues in West Virginia.  

Another hot pairing heading into the tournament will be Tim McGraw, Keith Urban and the Black-Eyed Peas.

These country music and pop icons headline three separate concerts at the nearby West Virginia fairgrounds.  

Consider that the Black-Eyed Peas were headliners at the World Cup, the Super Bowl and now the tiny PGA Tour stop with big muscles.

In its infancy, the Greenbrier Classic delivered so well that building on the foundation may be difficult.

Justice doesn't think so.

"Just look around, I have great people here.  I drive in almost every day and look around and say, I own this."  

Golf emeritus Tom Watson is skipping the U.S. Senior Open to be at the Greenbrier.  

Some golf experts question the decision.  But it was a commitment he made to Justice after he missed the inaugural event.  

"He called me after and said that he would understand if I wanted to play in the U.S. Senior Open.  And, I told him I made a commitment and I am coming," said Watson.

Mickelson has come out of hiding to play in the event because his kids want to do a lot of things on the campus of the resort.  

Some of the field includes 2011 tournament-winners Jonathan Byrd, D.A. Points, Johnson Wagner, Michael Bradley, Gary Woodland, Brandt Snedeker, Keegan Bradley and Chris Kirk.  

U.S. Ryder Cup Captain Davis Love III, two-time major champions Angel Cabrera, Retief Goosen, Jose Maria Olazabal, Lee Janzen and John Daly are also in the field.  

Here is a look at some of the players to beat.

10. Stuart Appleby

Anybody that shoots 59 on a Sunday at the Old White Course stands a chance to repeat.  

Stuart Appleby had one of those Sundays last July, which he will remember for a long time.  

He returns to the same resort, but a new, lengthened golf course.  The Old White has become the new Old White.  

Appleby will be greeted by faster, firmer greens and expectations in 2011.  The defending champion likes the course changes.  

But he said, "I don't see 59 out there.  Anyone shooting lower than a 65 has had a good round of golf." Coming into this week, the experienced Appleby is not playing his best golf.

9. "Lefty" Phil Mickelson

Last time we saw Phil Mickelson was in Sandwich, eating a second-place sandwich.  

The firm greens and the longer course play into the left-hander's bailiwick this week.  

And the wind from the Open will be nowhere to be found in White Sulphur Spring, WV.  

But if playing the pro-am with the owner of the resort has any benefit, Mickelson will be warmed up for a good tournament.

8. Gary Woodland

A stout young player—who hits it a ton—has a chance this week.  

Woodland won the Transitions Championship earlier this year.  

He can reduce the Old White to just an old pale white.  

And he looks like a free-agent linebacker, so this could be his week.  

7. Webb Simpson

Simply because he is near the top of the leaderboard each week, Simpson is a favorite to beak through.  

He went to school at Wake Forest on the Arnold Palmer scholarship.  

Now, he plays not too far from his hometown, Raleigh, NC.  

He continues to impress regardless of the course and the conditions.

6. Johnson Wagner

The two-time winner on the PGA Tour, Johnson Wagner, might be a sleeper pick this week at the Greenbrier.  

He went to college at nearby Virginia Tech and likes the Old White layout.  

A steady player, he won earlier this year at the Mayakoba Golf Classic in Mexico.

5. Sergio Garcia

A birdie machine.  

He will have to rev-up his machine this week.  

He tied for 60th place in 2010, but he liked the tournament enough to return.  He is a great ball-striker if his putting is on....Ole'.

4. Brendon de Jonge

He finished a fan-friendly third last year.  

He was the same player high-fiving Steve Stricker in Illinois two weeks ago at the John Deere Classic.  

He has proven he can get into contention.  

Can he prove he can teeter over the winner mountain in the Alleghenies this week?

Oh, and De Jonge is also a Hokie. There will be a lot of "Go Hokies!" chanted from the gallery this week.

3. Jeff Overton

When there are birdies for the taking, Overton will find them.  

Despite the improvements of the grass on the greens, the tighter fairways and the firmer greens, Overton will find some birdies this week.  

The midwesterner has a penchant for short courses. Just look at his track record.  

He will be in the mix on Sunday.

2. Black-Eyed Peas

The six-time Grammy Award-winning group will perform on Friday, just after the cut is made on the Old White Course.  

The Bleacher Report team is picking this group to make the cut.

1. Tom Watson

Will Tom Watson prove he is the Watson of old?  

The golf emeritus knows the course better than anyone in the field.  

Having first arrived at the resort for the 1979 Ryder Cup matches, Watson said, "When I first saw this place in 1979, I just liked the way the people treated you here."  

He also admitted to liking the course changes.  He said, "The greens are a lot firmer.  The ball is not going to stop."  Maybe the five-time British Open champion can show some West Virginia magic.

He's skipping the U.S. Senior Open for a reason.