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GREENSBORO -- Another week, another coup for the Wyndham Championship, which picked up two more major winners Wednesday and an equally major endorsement from the U.S. Ryder Cup captain.

Zach Johnson and Angel Cabrera, last year's Masters and U.S. Open winners, respectively, have agreed to play. Throw in England's Paul Casey, who also has committed, and Wyndham officials are suddenly having second thoughts about trying to secure a new spring date.

"Unless it's an incredible date move, maybe we need to rethink it," said Wyndham tournament director Mark Brazil. "I still think we've got one or two more big players who might come."

Johnson, Cabrera and Casey join Vijay Singh, Rocco Mediate and Davis Love III in Wyndham's field.

A year after golf's big names skipped town to rest for the FedEx Cup playoffs, Greensboro is suddenly the place to be in August. Even Ryder Cup captain Paul Azinger suggested as much Wednesday at the PGA Championship in Oakland Hills. He urged American golfers who think they might be on the bubble for next month's Ryder Cup to consider playing in the Wyndham.

"If a guy doesn't play, I understand," he said. "If they want to make the team, I hope they play. Next week counts."

Azinger said it makes sense for golfers to take next week off if they need to rest for the upcoming FedEx Cup playoffs. But he added that the Wyndham champion will get strong consideration for the Ryder Cup team.

"I'm going to look at who is hot," he said. "If somebody wins Greensboro, he's going to get a really good look from me -- when somebody wins Greensboro."

Wyndham officials were caught off guard by Azinger's remarks and were understandably giddy.

"You couldn't ask for a better endorsement," Brazil said.

Golfers have until Friday evening to commit -- Sunday evening if they finish among the top 10 this week.

A year ago, Wyndham officials thought their position on the calendar -- it's the last regular-season tour event before the playoffs -- might attract bigger names to Greensboro. They especially thought international players would want to come rather than head overseas only to return a week later for the playoffs.

Instead, Americans and international golfers stayed away in droves.

This year is proving otherwise.

"I guess you never know how these things will play out," said Brazil. "Last year was tough, that's for sure. Maybe we just needed a year under our belts to see how things would play out."

Contact Robert Bell at 373-7055 or robert.bell@news-record.com