PGA Tour: Zurich Classic Preview - Digital Sports Desk

The Zurich Classic | Tournament Preview

NEW ORLEANS – This is the eighth year the Zurich Classic of New Orleans will be played in a two-man team format, which was introduced in 2017 (postponed in 2020 due to COVID-19). Teams will play Four-ball in the first and third rounds, and Foursomes (alternate shot) in the second and final rounds.

Each player on the winning team will receive 400 FedExCup points, $1,329,400, a two-year exemption on the PGA TOUR (through 2027) and entry into the three remaining Signature Events.

This week’s field is highlighted by six players inside the Top 20 in the Official World Golf Ranking, including two of the top five (No. 2/Rory McIlroy, No. 4/Collin Morikawa).

Some tournament notes:

Teams in the field that have won this tourney beforehand: Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry (2024), Nick Hardy and Davis Riley (2023)
Players who won with different partners: Billy Horschel (2018 with Scott Piercy) and Ryan Palmer (2019 with LIVs Jon Rahm)
Players who won in the individual format: Nick Watney (2007), Jason Dufner (2012), Billy Horschel (2013). Horschel is the only player who has won the Zurich Classic of New Orleans both in the individual and team format (2013, 2018)
Seven teams that finished inside the Top 10 in 2024 are paired together in 2025: Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry (Won), Ryan Brehm and Mark Hubbard (3rd), Garrick Higgo and Ryan Fox (T4), Zac Blair and Patrick Fishburn (T4), Max Greyserman and Nico Echavarria (T4), Thomas Detry and Robert MacIntyre
(T8), Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin (10th)
Charley Hoffman and Nick Watney are the only pair to compete together in all seven previous editions of the team format. The duo has two Top-10s together, including a T5 in 2017.