Zurich Classic of New Orleans

Zurich Classic of New Orleans
Tournament information
LocationAvondale, Louisiana
Established1938[1]
Course(s)TPC Louisiana
Par72
Length7,425 yards (6,789 m)[2]
Organized byFore!Kids Foundation
Tour(s)PGA Tour
FormatTeam stroke play
Prize fundUS$8,900,000
Month playedApril
Tournament record score
AggregateIndividual:
262 Chip Beck (1988)
Team:
258 Nick Hardy and
Davis Riley (2023)
To parIndividual:
−26 as above
Team:
−30 as above
Current champion
Andrew Novak and
Ben Griffin
Location map
TPC Louisiana
Location in the United States
TPC Louisiana
Location in Louisiana

The Zurich Classic of New Orleans is a professional golf tournament in Louisiana on the PGA Tour, currently held at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, a suburb southwest of New Orleans. Beginning 87 years ago in 1938 and held annually since 1958, it is commonly played in early to mid-spring. Zurich Insurance Group is the main sponsor, and it is organized by the Fore!Kids Foundation.[3]

First prize reached five figures in 1965,[4] six figures in 1988,[5] and passed the million-dollar mark in 2006.[6] The winning team in 2022 split over $2.39 million.

In 2017, the Zurich Classic became a team event, with eighty pairs. One member of each team is initially chosen via the Tour priority rankings, and his partner must either be a PGA Tour member or earn entry through a sponsor exemption. The stroke play format was alternate shot (foursome) in the first and third rounds and better ball (fourball) for the second and fourth rounds. The cut line is 33 teams, plus ties. The winners earn 400 FedEx Cup points and two-year exemptions, but will not receive Masters invitations and no world ranking points are awarded for the event.[7]

In 2018, the format switched to fourball for the first and third rounds and alternate shot for the second and fourth rounds.[8]

Tournament names and corporate sponsors

  • Crescent City Open (1938)[9]
  • New Orleans Open (1939–1948)
  • Greater New Orleans Open Invitational (1958–1971)[9]
  • Greater New Orleans Invitational (1972–1974)[10]
  • First NBC New Orleans Open (1975–1979)[10]
  • Greater New Orleans Open (1980)
  • USF&G New Orleans Open (1981)[10]
  • USF&G Classic (1982–1991)
  • Freeport-McMoRan Golf Classic (1992–1993)[10]
  • Freeport-McMoRan Classic (1994–1995)
  • Freeport- McDermott Classic (1996–1998)
  • Compaq Classic of New Orleans (1999–2002)[10]
  • HP Classic of New Orleans (2003–2004)
  • Zurich Classic of New Orleans (2005–present)[10]

Tournament highlights

Courses

From the event's inception through 2004, it was played at a series of courses in New Orleans, starting at the City Park Golf Courses, where it was played through 1962. From 1963 through 1988, the event had a lengthy relationship with Lakewood Country Club before shifting to English Turn Golf and Country Club in 1989 for sixteen editions through 2004.

TPC Louisiana in Avondale became the host in 2005, but damage to the course by Hurricane Katrina that August forced the event back to English Turn for a year in 2006. It returned to the TPC in 2007, its current home.

Course layout

TPC Louisiana in 2016

Hole 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Out 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 In Total
Yards 399 548 221 482 438 476 561 372 207 3,704 390 575 492 403 216 490 355 215 585 3,721 7,425
Par 4 5 3 4 4 4 5 4 3 36 4 5 4 4 3 4 4 3 5 36 72

Source:[2]

Winners

Year Winner(s)[a] Score To par Margin of
victory
Runner(s)-up Purse
(US$)
Winner's
share ($)
Ref.
Zurich Classic of New Orleans
2025 Ben Griffin and
Andrew Novak
260 −28 1 stroke Nicolai Højgaard and
Rasmus Højgaard
9,200,000 1,392,000
(each)
2024 Shane Lowry and
Rory McIlroy
263 −25 Playoff Chad Ramey and
Martin Trainer
8,900,000 1,286,050
(each)
2023 Nick Hardy and
Davis Riley
258 −30 2 strokes Adam Hadwin and
Nick Taylor
8,600,000 1,242,700
(each)
2022 Patrick Cantlay and
Xander Schauffele
259 −29 2 strokes Sam Burns and
Billy Horschel
8,300,000 1,199,350
(each)
2021 Marc Leishman and
Cameron Smith (2)
268 −20 Playoff Louis Oosthuizen and
Charl Schwartzel
7,400,000 1,069,300
(each)
2020 Canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic [23]
2019 Ryan Palmer and
Jon Rahm
262 −26 3 strokes Tommy Fleetwood and
Sergio García
7,300,000 1,051,200
(each)
2018 Billy Horschel (2) and
Scott Piercy
266 −22 1 stroke Jason Dufner and
Pat Perez
7,200,000 1,036,800
(each)
2017 Jonas Blixt and
Cameron Smith
261 −27 Playoff Scott Brown and
Kevin Kisner
7,100,000 1,022,400
(each)
2016 Brian Stuard 201[b] −15 Playoff An Byeong-hun
Jamie Lovemark
7,000,000 1,260,000
2015 Justin Rose 266 −22 1 stroke Cameron Tringale 6,900,000 1,242,000
2014 Noh Seung-yul 269 −19 2 strokes Robert Streb
Andrew Svoboda
6,800,000 1,224,000
2013 Billy Horschel 268 −20 1 stroke D. A. Points 6,600,000 1,188,000
2012 Jason Dufner 269 −19 Playoff Ernie Els 6,400,000 1,152,000
2011 Bubba Watson 273 −15 Playoff Webb Simpson 6,400,000 1,152,000
2010 Jason Bohn 270 −18 2 strokes Jeff Overton 6,400,000 1,152,000
2009 Jerry Kelly 274 −14 1 stroke Charles Howell III
Rory Sabbatini
Charlie Wi
6,300,000 1,134,000
2008 Andrés Romero 275 −13 1 stroke Peter Lonard 6,200,000 1,116,000
2007 Nick Watney 273 −15 3 strokes Ken Duke 6,100,000 1,098,000
2006 Chris Couch 269 −19 1 stroke Fred Funk
Charles Howell III
6,000,000 1,080,000 [6]
2005 Tim Petrovic 275 −13 Playoff James Driscoll 5,500,000 990,000 [24]
HP Classic of New Orleans
2004 Vijay Singh 266 −22 1 stroke Phil Mickelson
Joe Ogilvie
5,100,000 918,000
2003 Steve Flesch 267 −21 Playoff Bob Estes 5,000,000 900,000
Compaq Classic of New Orleans
2002 K. J. Choi 271 −17 4 strokes Dudley Hart
Geoff Ogilvy
4,500,000 810,000
2001 David Toms 266 −22 2 strokes Phil Mickelson 4,000,000 720,000
2000 Carlos Franco (2) 270 −18 Playoff Blaine McCallister 3,400,000 612,000
1999 Carlos Franco 269 −19 2 strokes Steve Flesch
Harrison Frazar
2,600,000 468,000
Freeport-McDermott Classic
1998 Lee Westwood 273 −15 3 strokes Steve Flesch 1,700,000 306,000
1997 Brad Faxon 272 −16 3 strokes Bill Glasson
Jesper Parnevik
1,500,000 270,000
1996 Scott McCarron 275 −13 5 strokes Tom Watson 1,200,000 216,000
Freeport-McMoRan Classic
1995 Davis Love III 274 −14 Playoff Mike Heinen 1,200,000 216,000
1994 Ben Crenshaw (2) 273 −15 3 strokes José María Olazábal 1,200,000 216,000
Freeport-McMoRan Golf Classic
1993 Mike Standly 281 −7 1 stroke Russ Cochran
Payne Stewart
1,000,000 180,000
1992 Chip Beck (2) 276 −12 1 stroke Greg Norman
Mike Standly
1,000,000 180,000
USF&G Classic
1991 Ian Woosnam 275 −13 Playoff Jim Hallet 1,000,000 180,000
1990 David Frost 276 −12 1 stroke Greg Norman 1,000,000 180,000
1989 Tim Simpson 274 −14 2 strokes Greg Norman
Hal Sutton
750,000 135,000
1988 Chip Beck 262 −26 7 strokes Lanny Wadkins 750,000 135,000 [5]
1987 Ben Crenshaw 268 −20 3 strokes Curtis Strange 500,000 90,000 [25]
1986 Calvin Peete 269 −19 5 strokes Pat McGowan 500,000 90,000
1985 Seve Ballesteros 205[b] −11 2 strokes Peter Jacobsen
John Mahaffey
400,000 72,000
1984 Bob Eastwood 272 −16 3 strokes Larry Rinker 400,000 72,000
1983 Bill Rogers 274 −14 3 strokes David Edwards
Jay Haas
Vance Heafner
400,000 72,000
1982 Scott Hoch 206[b] −10 2 strokes Bob Shearer
Tom Watson
300,000 54,000
USF&G New Orleans Open
1981 Tom Watson (2) 270 −18 2 strokes Bruce Fleisher 350,000 63,000
Greater New Orleans Open
1980 Tom Watson 273 −15 2 strokes Lee Trevino 250,000 45,000
First NBC New Orleans Open
1979 Hubert Green 273 −15 1 stroke Frank Conner
Bruce Lietzke
Steve Melnyk
Lee Trevino
250,000 45,000
1978 Lon Hinkle 271 −17 1 stroke Gibby Gilbert
Fuzzy Zoeller
200,000 40,000
1977 Jim Simons 273 −15 3 strokes Stan Lee 175,000 35,000
1976 Larry Ziegler 274 −14 1 stroke Victor Regalado 175,000 35,000
1975 Billy Casper (2) 271 −17 2 strokes Peter Oosterhuis 150,000 30,000
Greater New Orleans Open
1974 Lee Trevino 267 −21 8 strokes Bobby Cole
Ben Crenshaw
150,000 30,000
1973 Jack Nicklaus 280 −8 Playoff Miller Barber 125,000 25,000
1972 Gary Player 279 −9 1 stroke Dave Eichelberger
Jack Nicklaus
125,000 25,000
Greater New Orleans Open Invitational
1971 Frank Beard (2) 276 −12 1 stroke Hubert Green 125,000 25,000
1970 Miller Barber 278 −10 Playoff Bob Charles
Howie Johnson
125,000 25,000
1969 Larry Hinson 275 −13 Playoff Frank Beard 100,000 20,000 [26]
1968 George Archer 271 −17 2 strokes Bert Yancey 100,000 20,000 [26]
1967 George Knudson 277 −11 1 stroke Jack Nicklaus 100,000 20,000 [26]
1966 Frank Beard 276 −12 2 strokes Gardner Dickinson 100,000 20,000 [26]
1965 Dick Mayer 273 −15 1 stroke Bruce Devlin
Billy Martindale
100,000 20,000 [4][26]
1964 Mason Rudolph 283 −5 1 stroke Jack Nicklaus
Chi-Chi Rodríguez
Glenn Stuart
50,000 7,500 [26]
[27]
1963 Bo Wininger (2) 279 −9 3 strokes Tony Lema
Bob Rosburg
40,000 6,400 [26]
1962 Bo Wininger 281 −7 2 strokes Bob Rosburg 30,000 4,300 [26]
1961 Doug Sanders 272 −16 5 strokes Gay Brewer
Mac Main
30,000 4,300 [26]
1960 Dow Finsterwald 270 −18 6 strokes Al Besselink 25,000 3,500 [26]
1959 Bill Collins 280 −8 3 strokes Jack Burke Jr.
Tom Nieporte
20,000 2,800 [26]
1958 Billy Casper 278 −10 Playoff Ken Venturi 20,000 2,800 [26]
1949–1957: No tournament
New Orleans Open
1948 Bob Hamilton 280 −4 1 stroke Roberto De Vicenzo
Fred Haas
Lawson Little
10,000 2,000 [28]
1947: No tournament
1946 Byron Nelson (2) 277 −11 5 strokes Ben Hogan 7,500 1,500 [29][30]
1945 Byron Nelson 284 −4 Playoff Jug McSpaden 5,000 1,300 [31][32]
1944 Sammy Byrd 285 −3 5 strokes Byron Nelson 5,000 1,000 [33]
1943: No tournament
1942 Lloyd Mangrum 281 −7 1 stroke Lawson Little
Sam Snead
5,000 1,000 [34]
1941 Henry Picard (2) 276 −12 2 strokes Ben Hogan 5,000 1,200 [35]
1940 Jimmy Demaret 286 −2 1 stroke Ralph Guldahl
Jug McSpaden
Sam Snead
10,000 2,000 [36]
1939 Henry Picard 284 −4 5 strokes Dick Metz 10,000 2,000 [37][38]
Crescent City Open
1938 Harry Cooper 285 −3 4 strokes Jug McSpaden 5,000 1,200 [39]

Note: Green highlight indicates scoring records
Sources:[40][41]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ From 2017 onwards, the Zurich Classic of New Orleans became a two-player team event.
  2. ^ a b c Shortened to 54 holes due to weather.

References

  1. ^ Zurich Classic – Our history
  2. ^ a b "Course Map". Zurich Classic. April 2016. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
  3. ^ About Fore!Kids Foundation
  4. ^ a b "Old Man Mayer wins golf on 30-yard chip shot". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. May 17, 1965. p. 10.
  5. ^ a b "Beck collects it all but Hogan record". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. April 25, 1988. p. 2C.
  6. ^ a b "Couch's 55-foot chip-in wins Zurich Classic". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. May 1, 2006. p. C5.
  7. ^ Schupak, Adam (April 26, 2017). "Zurich Classic Turns to Team Play as a Jolt to PGA Tour Routine". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
  8. ^ Everill, Ben (April 25, 2018). "Format change brings potential Sunday volatility at Zurich Classic". PGA Tour.
  9. ^ a b "A Brief History of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans". lgagolf.org. Retrieved 2018-03-13.
  10. ^ a b c d e f "Our History – Zurich Classic of New Orleans". zurichgolfclassic.com. Retrieved 2018-03-13.
  11. ^ Beard Takes New Orleans
  12. ^ Tampering charged; Golfer suspended
  13. ^ Keeping A Close Eye On The Ball
  14. ^ Radosta, John S. (April 1, 1974). "Trevino Wins by 8 Shots". The New York Times.
  15. ^ Casper Wins New Orleans Tournament
  16. ^ Hinkle wins in New Orleans Player's streak ends
  17. ^ O'Grady fined and suspended by US Tour
  18. ^ Norman felled by Frost's bunker shot
  19. ^ GOLF; Late Berth In Masters to Davis Love
  20. ^ Paraguay's Franco gets first tour victory in New Orleans
  21. ^ Choi wins Compaq Classic by four strokes
  22. ^ Singh rallies for second straight title
  23. ^ "PGA Tour statement regarding additional tournament cancellations". PGA Tour. March 17, 2020. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  24. ^ "Petrovic delivers, wins Zurich Classic". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. May 2, 2005. p. C2.
  25. ^ "Smooth putting aids Crenshaw". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. March 23, 1987. p. 2B.
  26. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Johnson, Sal; Seanor, Dave, eds. (2009). The USA Today Golfers Encyclopedia. New York, New York: Skyhorse Publishing. ISBN 978-1-60239-302-8.
  27. ^ "Rudolph wins tourney title". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. March 3, 1964. p. 3B.
  28. ^ "Bob Hamilton Golf Victor". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Associated Press. February 23, 1948. p. 16. Retrieved April 1, 2010.
  29. ^ "Nelson First In N.O. Tourney". The Lewiston Daily Sun. Lewiston, Maine. Associated Press. February 18, 1946. p. 8. Retrieved April 1, 2010.
  30. ^ "Byron Nelson Tops Hogan To Win New Orleans Open". Eugene Register-Guard. Eugene, Oregon. Associated Press. February 18, 1946. p. 5. Retrieved April 1, 2010.
  31. ^ "McSpaden Falters To Finish In Tie With Byron Nelson". Ottawa Citizen. Ottawa, Canada. Associated Press. February 13, 1945. p. 8. Retrieved April 1, 2010.
  32. ^ "Nelson Wins Tourney With Sensational 65". The Montreal Gazette. Montreal, Canada. Associated Press. February 14, 1945. p. 16. Retrieved April 1, 2010.
  33. ^ "Byrd Tops Field To Win All War Bond Open Tourney". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. Daytona Beach, Florida. Associated Press. February 29, 1944. p. 5. Retrieved April 1, 2010.
  34. ^ "Mangrum New Orleans Golf Winner". The Deseret News. Salt Lake City, Utah. Associated Press. February 21, 1942. p. 9. Retrieved April 1, 2010.
  35. ^ "Picard Wins Open With Record 276". St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. United Press. February 17, 1941. p. 13. Retrieved April 1, 2010.
  36. ^ "TexasPro Fattens Purse". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. Spartanburg, South Carolina. Associated Press. February 27, 1940. p. 7. Retrieved April 1, 2010.
  37. ^ "Week-End Sport Results In Brief". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Sarasota, Florida. Associated Press. February 20, 1939. p. 6. Retrieved April 1, 2010.
  38. ^ "Henry Picard Wins His Second Tourney". The Norwalk Hour. Norwalk, Connecticut. Associated Press. February 27, 1939. p. 9. Retrieved April 1, 2010.
  39. ^ "Cooper Clips Par For Open Victory". The Evening Independent. St. Petersburg, Florida. Associated Press. February 22, 1938. p. 5A. Retrieved April 1, 2010.
  40. ^ Zurich Classic of New Orleans – Winners - at pgatour.com
  41. ^ Zurich Classic of New Orleans – Past Winners & Highlights Archived April 22, 2009, at the Wayback Machine

29°54′07″N 90°11′24″W / 29.902°N 90.190°W / 29.902; -90.190