John Heller, Post-Gazette Jason Gore celebrates the first PGA Tour title of his career after sinking the final putt on No. 18 last year at the 84 Lumber Classic at Mystic Rock at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort and Spa in Farmington, Pa. Click photo for larger image. IF YOU GO When: Sept. 11-17. Where: Nemacolin Woodlands Resort & Spa, Farmington, Pa. Course: Mystic Rock. Yards: 7,516. Purse: $4.6 million. Winner's share: $828,000. TV: ESPN. Tickets: Daily Competition passes: $25; Weekly Badge: $84; Daily Practice: Free. Tickets can be purchased at www.84lumber-classic.com

Jeff Nobers, adhering to one of the most time-honored cliches in the world of sports, is playing it one tournament at a time. With a little twist on the theme.

As the vice president of corporate communications, it's Nobers' job to get the word out about how the 84 Lumber Classic at Mystic Rock on Sept. 11-17 will be bigger and better than the previous three PGA events staged at the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort course.

But while he's talking about the upcoming tournament, Nobers will be working on the fifth event, which will move to a more prestigious date on the PGA calendar in June of 2007.

"We're working on this year's tournament," he said, "but we certainly have our eyes ahead to 2007."

Instead of a 12-month turnaround between tournaments, Nobers and his staff will have just eight months to prepare for 2007 after the final shot this year.

"We actually started planning right after the tournament was over last September because we decided to assume it [the time change] is going to happen. We were able to jump on it right away," he said. "We were able to focus a little more on 2007. That doesn't mean we've been overlooking the 2006 tournament. Not at all. It's just that this will be our fourth year and you learn something every year that makes it a little easier. This will be a one-time deal with only eight months between tournaments. We'll be back to the 12-month cycle after 2007."

Most of the star-studded field from last year, including Phil Mickelson, Vijay Singh and defending champion Jason Gore, are expected to return to compete for the $4.4 million purse and winning share of $792,000. Gore had rounds of 65, 72, 67 and 70 for a 14-under 274 and a stroke victory over runner-up Carlos Franco.

84 Lumber Classic Tournament History

The switch to June in 2007 should help lure even more of the game's glamour players who might stick around Western Pennsylvania after competing in the U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club the week prior to the 84 Lumber Classic.

"The field probably will expand from 144 to 156 players in 2007 because there's more daylight in June than September and 12 players can be added for the first two rounds," Nobers said. "I'm confident there will be a lot of players who want to stay around once they get to this area."

In addition to a larger field of players in 2007, Nobers expects the crowds to grow from 200,000 last year to 250,000.

Because of the expected crush of spectators in 2007, Nobers said he'll be looking for more than the 1,100 or so volunteers who will work this year's tournament.

"We're hopeful that we'll add another 300-400, in that range, in 2007. The tournament will be in the summer and a lot of our volunteers are teachers who will be off. And school is out, which means we'll have more access to the high school kids. It will be a whole different situation that we'll face in June. There's still a lot of work to do, but from a planning stage we're in pretty good shape. We're pretty much done and ready to roll."

Nobers said the course will have a minor facelift this year, with a little tweaking here and there to get it ready for 2007.

"The years of massive changes are behind us," he said. "The changes are designed for people driving the ball 300 yards. The guests playing the course who hit it 220 are not going to notice the changes.

"The most visible change will be No. 1, where the tee has been relocated 30 yards farther back and to the left. The hole will be 30 yards longer [at 352 yards] with a little tougher shot to the green. It becomes a more challenging par 4. We've elevated the pro tee at No. 2 so you can easily see the fairway bunkers and get a better perspective of the hole. The green at No. 5 has been relocated off to the left and will sit back near the Mystic falls where the lions were. They'll be gone. The hole doesn't get any longer, but it makes the second shot a little trickier by bringing the water into play.

"The water has been extended all the way down the right fairway and goes behind the hole at No 13 [a 362-yard par 4]. We've taken out a pot bunker, here and there, but nothing else will be super dramatic."

John Beale, Post-Gazette Phil Mickelson finished last year's 84 Lumber Classic tied for 28th with a total score of 284.