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 86 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]
 | |
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Location | Avondale, Louisiana |
| Established | 1938[1] |
| Course(s) | TPC Louisiana |
| Par | 72 |
| Length | 7,425 yards (6,789 m)[2] |
| Organized by | Fore!Kids Foundation |
| Tour(s) | PGA Tour |
| Format | Team stroke play |
| Prize fund | US$8,300,000 |
| Month played | April |
| Tournament record score | |
| Aggregate | Individual: 262 Chip Beck (1988) Team: 258 Nick Hardy and Davis Riley (2023) |
| To par | Individual: −26 as above Team: −30 as above |
| Current champion | |
 Nick Hardy and Davis Riley | |
| Location map | |
  TPC Louisiana Location in the United States  TPC Louisiana Location in Louisiana | |
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 edit
- 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 edit
- 1966: Frank Beard wins his first New Orleans title by two shots over Gardner Dickinson. The win by Beard came two years after his being diagnosed with and almost dying of encephalitis shortly after playing in the 1964 Greater New Orleans Open Invitational.[11]
- 1972: PGA Tour rookie Rogelio Gonzales was disqualified after it was learned he had changed his scorecard earlier in the tournament.[12] In addition to his disqualification, the PGA Tour lifted Gonzales playing privileges.[13]
- 1974: Lee Trevino wins with a bogey-free four rounds, a rare occurrence.[14]
- 1975: Billy Casper wins for the 51st and ultimately last time on the PGA Tour. He beats Peter Oosterhuis by two shots.[15]
- 1978: Lon Hinkle earns his first ever PGA Tour title by birdieing the 72nd hole to beat Fuzzy Zoeller and Gibby Gilbert by one shot. The win by Hinkle ends Gary Player's consecutive tournament winning streak at three.[16]
- 1984: Mac O'Grady gets into an altercation with a female tournament volunteer. He is later fined and suspended by Tour Commissioner Deane Beman for conduct unbecoming a professional golfer.[17]
- 1990: David Frost beats Greg Norman by one shot after holing out from a sand trap on the 72nd hole.[18]
- 1995: In need of a win to qualify for The Masters, Davis Love III defeats Mike Heinen in a sudden death playoff.[19]
- 1999: Carlos Franco becomes the first South American to win on the PGA Tour since Roberto De Vicenzo at the 1968 Houston Champions International. Franco wins by two shots over Steve Flesch and Harrison Frazar.[20]
- 2002: K. J. Choi becomes the first Korean born golfer to win on the PGA Tour. He beats Dudley Hart and Geoff Ogilvy by four shots.[21]
- 2004: Vijay Singh shoots a final round 63 to beat Phil Mickelson and Joe Ogilvie by one shot.[22]
- 2017: The event switched to a team format.
Courses edit
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 edit
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 edit
| Year | Winner(s)[a] | Score | To par | Margin of victory |
Runner(s)-up | Purse (US$) |
Winner's share ($) |
Ref. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zurich Classic of New Orleans | ||||||||||
| 2024 | 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]
Multiple winners edit
There is yet to be a three-time winner at New Orleans, but eleven have won twice. Four won in consecutive years: Byron Nelson, Bo Wininger, Tom Watson, and Franco.
2 wins
- Henry Picard: 1939, 1941
- Byron Nelson: 1945, 1946
- Bo Wininger: 1962, 1963
- Frank Beard: 1966, 1971
- Billy Casper: 1958, 1975
- Tom Watson: 1980, 1981
- Chip Beck: 1988, 1992
- Ben Crenshaw: 1987, 1994
- Carlos Franco: 1999, 2000
- Billy Horschel: 2013, 2018
- Cameron Smith: 2017, 2021
See also edit
- Southern (Spring) Open, a 1922 PGA Tour event in New Orleans
- Sports in New Orleans
Notes edit
References edit
- ^ Zurich Classic – Our history
- ^ a b "Course Map". Zurich Classic. April 2016. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
- ^ About Fore!Kids Foundation
- ^ a b "Old Man Mayer wins golf on 30-yard chip shot". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. May 17, 1965. p. 10.
- ^ a b "Beck collects it all but Hogan record". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. April 25, 1988. p. 2C.
- ^ a b "Couch's 55-foot chip-in wins Zurich Classic". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. May 1, 2006. p. C5.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Everill, Ben (April 25, 2018). "Format change brings potential Sunday volatility at Zurich Classic". PGA Tour.
- ^ a b "A Brief History of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans". lgagolf.org. Retrieved 2018-03-13.
- ^ a b c d e f "Our History – Zurich Classic of New Orleans". zurichgolfclassic.com. Retrieved 2018-03-13.
- ^ Beard Takes New Orleans
- ^ Tampering charged; Golfer suspended
- ^ Keeping A Close Eye On The Ball
- ^ Radosta, John S. (April 1, 1974). "Trevino Wins by 8 Shots". The New York Times.
- ^ Casper Wins New Orleans Tournament
- ^ Hinkle wins in New Orleans Player's streak ends
- ^ O'Grady fined and suspended by US Tour
- ^ Norman felled by Frost's bunker shot
- ^ GOLF; Late Berth In Masters to Davis Love
- ^ Paraguay's Franco gets first tour victory in New Orleans
- ^ Choi wins Compaq Classic by four strokes
- ^ Singh rallies for second straight title
- ^ "PGA Tour statement regarding additional tournament cancellations". PGA Tour. March 17, 2020. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
- ^ "Petrovic delivers, wins Zurich Classic". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. May 2, 2005. p. C2.
- ^ "Smooth putting aids Crenshaw". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. March 23, 1987. p. 2B.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Rudolph wins tourney title". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. March 3, 1964. p. 3B.
- ^ "Bob Hamilton Golf Victor". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Associated Press. February 23, 1948. p. 16. Retrieved April 1, 2010.
- ^ "Nelson First In N.O. Tourney". The Lewiston Daily Sun. Lewiston, Maine. Associated Press. February 18, 1946. p. 8. Retrieved April 1, 2010.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "McSpaden Falters To Finish In Tie With Byron Nelson". Ottawa Citizen. Ottawa, Canada. Associated Press. February 13, 1945. p. 8. Retrieved April 1, 2010.
- ^ "Nelson Wins Tourney With Sensational 65". The Montreal Gazette. Montreal, Canada. Associated Press. February 14, 1945. p. 16. Retrieved April 1, 2010.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Mangrum New Orleans Golf Winner". The Deseret News. Salt Lake City, Utah. Associated Press. February 21, 1942. p. 9. Retrieved April 1, 2010.
- ^ "Picard Wins Open With Record 276". St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. United Press. February 17, 1941. p. 13. Retrieved April 1, 2010.
- ^ "TexasPro Fattens Purse". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. Spartanburg, South Carolina. Associated Press. February 27, 1940. p. 7. Retrieved April 1, 2010.
- ^ "Week-End Sport Results In Brief". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Sarasota, Florida. Associated Press. February 20, 1939. p. 6. Retrieved April 1, 2010.
- ^ "Henry Picard Wins His Second Tourney". The Norwalk Hour. Norwalk, Connecticut. Associated Press. February 27, 1939. p. 9. Retrieved April 1, 2010.
- ^ "Cooper Clips Par For Open Victory". The Evening Independent. St. Petersburg, Florida. Associated Press. February 22, 1938. p. 5A. Retrieved April 1, 2010.
- ^ Zurich Classic of New Orleans – Winners - at pgatour.com
- ^ Zurich Classic of New Orleans – Past Winners & Highlights Archived April 22, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
External links edit
- Official website
- Coverage on PGA Tour's official site
- TPC Louisiana – official site
- English Turn Golf & Country Club – former host (1989–2004, 2006)
- Lakewood Golf Club – former host (1963–1988)
- City Park Golf Courses – former host (1937–1962)