FORMER LSU TIGER SAM BURNS TEAMS WITH FELLOW TOUR ROOKIE CAMERON CHAMP IN 2019 ZURICH CLASSIC
NEW ORLEANS, LA (April 18, 2019)—Two PGA TOUR rookies, one a former LSU Tiger, have teamed to play in the 2019 Zurich Classic announced Steve Worthy, CEO of the Fore!Kids Foundation, producer of the tournament.
Sam Burns, who made All-American at LSU, has teamed with fellow rookie Cameron Champ, who won his first victory in his ninth PGA TOUR start.
“These are two young players who’ve made an immediate impact on the PGA Tour, and we welcome them as a team to the Zurich Classic,” said Worthy. “Cameron has already won a PGA Tour event, and Sam followed some strong play last year with four top-25 finishes this season, so their future looks very bright,” Worthy added.
Burns, a native of Shreveport, was a three-time individual state champion in high school. At LSU he was named first-team All-American and was the NCAA Division I Jack Nickalus Player of the Year in the 2016-17 season. He represented the U.S. on the winning 2017 Arnold Palmer Cup team.
Later that year, he finished tied for sixth in the Barbasol Championship as an amateur.
He turned pro later the same year and finished tied for seventh at the Honda Classic, where he was paired with Tiger Woods in the final round. His top-10 finish at Honda earned him entry to the Valspar Championship, where he finished 12th.
This season, his highest finish was a tie for third in the Sanderson Farms Championship, won by Champ. He has since scored three more top-25 finishes.
Playing for Texas A&M, Champ was a semi-finalist for the 2017 Jack Nicklaus Award that Burns won. Champ also made the Walker Cup team that year.
He won the 2019 Sanderson Farms Championship in his second start as an official member of the PGA TOUR. During this season, he has also recorded a sixth in the RSM Classic and a tie for tenth in the Mayakoba Golf Classic.
Champ is known as a prodigious driver. He later currently leads the PGA TOUR in driving distance, with an average of 316.8 yards. His teammate Burns is not far behind, averaging 306.5 yards off the tee, 19thon the PGA TOUR.
The Zurich Classic is the only team tournament on the PGA TOUR season. Since launching the team format two years ago, the Zurich Classic of New Orleans has drawn some of the highest ranking fields for any regular-season tournament on the PGA TOUR. In 2018, the tournament field included six of the top ten players in the world; all four reigning major champions; the U.S. Ryder Cup captain and six members of the U.S. team along with the European Ryder Cup captain with four of his co-captains and six players on the victorious European team.
About Fore!Kids Foundation:
Since 1958, the Fore!Kids Foundation has raised money to fund children’s service organizations through golf events like the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, The Holiday Auction Fore!Kids and several charitable golf tournaments. As a 501(c)(3) corporation, Fore!Kids has helped to raise more than $37 million to date for children’s charities in metro New Orleans and Baton Rouge. More information at http://www.forekidsfoundation.com.
About the Zurich Classic of New Orleans:
Televised in more than 224 countries and territories, the Zurich Classic of New Orleans generates a significant economic impact on the city of New Orleans and the entire state of Louisiana. Independent research has shown that the tournament generates spending of more than $40 million within the local economy and garners $33 million in positive national and international media exposure for both the city and state throughout the year beyond the four days of competition.
The tournament will be played April 22-28, 2019 at TPC Louisiana in Avondale. Purse for 2019 totals $7.3 million, with each member of the winning team earning $1,051,200.
Single-day grounds tickets are only $35 and weekly passes are $85. Single day tickets for the two most popular hospitality venues on the PGA TOUR start at $85 for Acme Oyster House and $185 for The Champions Club. Other choices of suite and specialty venue options are available by calling the Tournament Office at 504-342-3000 or online at www.zurichgolfclassic.com.
MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS HENRIK STENSON AND GRAEME MCDOWELL TEAM UP FOR ZURICH CLASSIC
Keegan Bradley, another former major winner, partners with high school teammate Jon Curran
NEW ORLEANS, LA (April 17, 2019)—Henrik Stenson, winner of the Olympic silver medal and The Open Championship in 2016, will partner with Graeme McDowell in this year’s Zurich Classic, announced Steve Worthy, CEO of the Fore!Kids Foundation, producer of the tournament.
“Both these players have years of experience in Ryder Cup competition, so we expect them to be competitive in our team format,” said Worthy.
“Likewise, we welcome Keegan Bradley back to our tournament again, partnered with his former high school teammate Jon Curran,” Worthy said. “They have won twice in unofficial team events, so their games and chemistry seem to complement each other quite well,” said Worthy.
Both Stenson and McDowell are winners of major championships. Stenson won the 145thOpen Championship at Royal Troon in 2016 just prior to his success at the Summer Olympics that year when he won the silver medal. McDowell won the 2010 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach for his first victory on the PGA TOUR.
Stenson has won six times on the PGA TOUR, including a World Golf Championship title, The Players Championship and the 2013 TOUR Championship presented by Coca Cola to win the FedExCup that season. He has also claimed 13 international titles.
In 2018 he tied for second in the WGC-HSBC Champions and earned a fourth in the Arnold Palmer Invitational. That year he also finished fifth in the Masters, tied for sixth in the U.S. Open and won all three of his matches in the Ryder Cup.
This season his best finish was a tie for ninth in the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play.
In addition to playing on five Ryder Cup teams, Stenson also made four World Cup teams and three Royal Trophy squads. He was 3-0 in the 2018 Ryder Cup won by the European team. He is currently ranked 38thin the world.
Stenson and Rose tied for 19thin last year’s Zurich Classic, won by Billy Horschel and Scott Piercy. That tournament was the first on the PGA Tour to feature walk-up music selected by the players on the first tee during the weekend.
Partnered with Ian Poulter, McDowell finished 22ndin last year’s Zurich Classic. McDowell’s best finish in the Zurich Classic was a tie for 15thin 2006 after starting the tournament with a 64 in the first round to take the early lead.
McDowell won the Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship in March, his fourth PGA TOUR victory, to go with eight international titles he has won. He also finished seventh in the Valero Texas Open the week before the Masters.
He has played on four Ryder Cup teams, compiling a record of 8-5-2. He also played on five World Cup teams and competed for the Seve Cup twice.
As an amateur, he helped Great Britain and Ireland retain the Walker Cup in 2001 at Sea Island, Ga. At the University of Alabama-Birmingham, McDowell was ranked the top collegiate golfer in the United States, winning the 2002 Fred Haskins Award.
Bradley won the 2011 PGA Championship in his first year on the PGA TOUR, when he was named Rookie of the Year. He also won the Byron Nelson Championship that year and teamed with Brendan Steele to win the unofficial Franklin Templeton Shootout.
Bradley’s best finish in the Zurich Classic was a tie for eighth in 2014. His best finishes this season include a sixth in the World Golf Championships-HCBC Champions and a tie for tenth in the WGC-Mexico Championship.
He has won four times on the PGA TOUR, most recently last year’s BMW Championship in the 2018 FedExCup playoffs. In addition, he was won the CVS Health Charity Classic three times, twice with his Zurich Classic partner and high school teammate Jon Curran.
He made the U.S. Ryder Cup team twice, compiling a record of 4-1 in team matches. He also played on the Presidents Cup team once. He is currently ranked 33rdin the world.
Curran was the top-ranked player on the Hopkinton High School team with his good friend Bradley ranked second. They were part of the team that won the Massachusetts state championship in Bradley’s senior year by 28 strokes.
Curran went on to earn All-SEC and All-American honors at Vanderbilt in 2008-09 before turning pro. He enjoyed two solid years on the PGA TOUR in 2015-2016, losing playoffs for the 2015 Puerto Rico Open and the 2016 Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide.
In 2017, a rib injury sidelined him all the way through the current season, so the Zurich Classic will be his first start on the PGA TOUR in 2019.
The Zurich Classic is the only team tournament on the PGA TOUR season. Since launching the team format two years ago, the Zurich Classic of New Orleans has drawn some of the highest ranking fields for any regular-season tournament on the PGA TOUR. In 2018, the tournament field included six of the top ten players in the world; all four reigning major champions; the U.S. Ryder Cup captain and six members of the U.S. team along with the European Ryder Cup captain with four of his co-captains and six players on the victorious European team.
About Fore!Kids Foundation:
Since 1958, the Fore!Kids Foundation has raised money to fund children’s service organizations through golf events like the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, The Holiday Auction Fore!Kids and several charitable golf tournaments. As a 501(c)(3) corporation, Fore!Kids has helped to raise more than $37 million to date for children’s charities in metro New Orleans and Baton Rouge. More information at http://www.forekidsfoundation.com.
About the Zurich Classic of New Orleans:
Televised in more than 224 countries and territories, the Zurich Classic of New Orleans generates a significant economic impact on the city of New Orleans and the entire state of Louisiana. Independent research has shown that the tournament generates spending of more than $40 million within the local economy and garners $33 million in positive national and international media exposure for both the city and state throughout the year beyond the four days of competition.
The tournament will be played April 22-28, 2019 at TPC Louisiana in Avondale. Purse for 2019 totals $7.3 million, with each member of the winning team earning $1,051,200.
Single-day grounds tickets are only $35 and weekly passes are $85. Single day tickets for the two most popular hospitality venues on the PGA TOUR start at $85 for Acme Oyster House and $185 for The Champions Club. Other choices of suite and specialty venue options are available by calling the Tournament Office at 504-342-3000 or online at www.zurichgolfclassic.com.
FORMER U.S. RYDER CUP CAPTAINS JIM FURYK AND DAVIS LOVE III FORM TEAMS TO PLAY THE 2019 ZURICH CLASSIC
Two-time Ryder Cup captain Davis will pair with his son Dru, while Furyk will team again with David Duval, once ranked #1 in the world
NEW ORLEANS, LA (April 17, 2019)—Two former U.S. Ryder Cup captains, both winners of major championships, have entered teams to play in the 2019 Zurich Classic, announced Steve Worthy, CEO of the Fore!Kids Foundation, producer of the tournament.
Last year’s Ryder Cup captain Jim Furyk will team with David Duval, who was ranked #1 in the world at the peak of his career. Davis Love III, who captained the U.S. Ryder Cup team to its last victory in 2016, will partner with his son Dru.
Davis is a two-time Ryder Cup captain and a former winner of our tournament,” said Worthy. “We welcome him and his son Dru, the first father-son pairing we’ve seen in the Zurich Classic,” added Worthy.
“And once again, we are honored to have Jim Furyk and David Duval join our field this year,” Worthy said. “Both guys have deep team golf experience, and they will be a very popular team again with our fans,” said Worthy.
Furyk is enjoying something of a late-career renaissance this year. He posted two top-10 finishes earlier in the season before nearly winning The Players Championship in March in a quest to become the oldest winner of that tournament at 48 years old. He began the final round five shots behind and ran off five birdies and an eagle to go into the clubhouse as the leader at 15-under before falling short of victory by a single stroke. His second place marked his 31stcareer runner-up finish on the PGA TOUR.
He has won 17 times on the PGA TOUR, including the 2003 U.S. Open and the 2010 TOUR Championship. He currently ranks fourth in all-time earnings, with more than $70 million since he joined the TOUR in 1994.
He and Duval have played as a team before, when they won the Fred Meyer Challenge in 1998. They missed the cut by one stroke in last year’s Zurich Classic.
Furyk has been a mainstay for years on American national teams, with seven appearances in the Presidents Cup and nine in the Ryder Cup. Among American players, his nine Ryder Cup competitions are second all-time, and his 34 matches are tied for third all-time.
Hall of Famer Davis Love III won the tournament here in 1995 when it was the Freeport-McMoRan Classic. The win in New Orleans qualified him into the Masters that year, and he went on to finish second by one stroke to Ben Crenshaw.
Love has 21 PGA TOUR victories in his career. He has 12 other victories in unofficial tournaments, including four World Cup wins playing with Fred Couples and four other team titles. His latest team win was in the 2012 PNC Father/Son Challenge playing with his son Dru.
He won the PGA Championship in 1997 but has come close to winning many more major titles. He posted six top-tens in both The Open Championship and the Masters, with five top-tens in the U.S. Open and three in the PGA Championship after his 1997 title.
He played on six Ryder Cup teams and captained the U.S team in 2012 and 2016, the last time the U.S. won the competition. The 2016 score of 17-11 over Europe was the widest winning margin for the U.S. in 35 years.
Love’s team career also includes six Presidents Cups, five World Cups, one Walker Cup and one Dunhill Cup.
Davis Love IV, known as Dru, made his professional debut at the U.S. Open with his dad on his bag. He was a member of the University of Alabama team for four years before turning pro. He has since played in 16 PGA TOUR events, making the cut three times.
Furyk’s partner Duval, now primarily a broadcaster on the Golf Channel, claimed 13 PGA TOUR victories, including The Open Championship in 2001 and the TOUR Championship in 1997. He was ranked number one in the world for 15 weeks in 1999.
His father Bob played on the Champions Tour, and both father and son won their respective tournaments on the same day in 1999.
Duval’s last individual appearance in the Zurich Classic came in 2014, when he finished a season-best 25th.
He is also a veteran of team play, with four Ryder Cups, three Presidents Cups, two World Cups, two World Amateur Team Championships and one Walker Cup.
At Georgia Tech, Duval was named 1993 Collegiate Player of the Year. He is one of only four collegiate players to earn Division I first team All-American status four times. He also won the U.S. Junior Amateur in 1989.
The Zurich Classic is the only team tournament on the PGA TOUR season. Since launching the team format two years ago, the Zurich Classic of New Orleans has drawn some of the highest ranking fields for any regular-season tournament on the PGA TOUR. In 2018, the tournament field included six of the top ten players in the world; all four reigning major champions; the U.S. Ryder Cup captain and six members of the U.S. team along with the European Ryder Cup captain with four of his co-captains and six players on the victorious European team.
About Fore!Kids Foundation:
Since 1958, the Fore!Kids Foundation has raised money to fund children’s service organizations through golf events like the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, The Holiday Auction Fore!Kids and several charitable golf tournaments. As a 501(c)(3) corporation, Fore!Kids has helped to raise more than $36 million to date for children’s charities in metro New Orleans and Baton Rouge. More information at http://www.forekidsfoundation.com.
About the Zurich Classic of New Orleans:
Televised in more than 224 countries and territories, the Zurich Classic of New Orleans generates a significant economic impact on the city of New Orleans and the entire state of Louisiana. Independent research has shown that the tournament generates spending of more than $40 million within the local economy and garners $33 million in positive national and international media exposure for both the city and state throughout the year beyond the four days of competition.
The tournament will be played April 22-28, 2019 at TPC Louisiana in Avondale. Purse for 2019 totals $7.3 million, with each member of the winning team earning $1,051,200.
Single-day grounds tickets are only $35 and weekly passes are $85. Single day tickets for the two most popular hospitality venues on the PGA TOUR start at $85 for Acme Oyster House and $185 for The Champions Club. Kids 17 and under are admitted free when accompanied by an adult holding a grounds ticket. Other choices of suite and specialty venue options are available by calling the Tournament Office at 504-342-3000 or online at www.zurichgolfclassic.com.
JON RAHM WILL TEAM WITH RYAN PALMERIN 2019 ZURICH CLASSIC
Spaniard who played for Arizona State made European Ryder Cup team in his second year as a fulltime professional
NEW ORLEANS, LA (April 16, 2019)—Jon Rahm, ranked 11thin the world, will partner with veteran Ryan Palmer in this year’s Zurich Classic, announced Steve Worthy, CEO of the Fore!Kids Foundation, producer of the tournament.
“Jon is one of the brightest young stars on the PGA TOUR,” said Worthy. “Known for his intensity and passion, he made the European Ryder Cup team in only his second year as a fulltime professional, which is a remarkable achievement,” added Worthy.
Rahm turned professional in 2016 out of Arizona State and won his first PGA TOUR title at the 2017 Farmers Insurance Open. He claimed another victory the next season at the 2018 Career Builder Challenge to vault him to second in the world golf rankings at the time.
In that short span, he also won three tournaments on the European Tour. He recorded four top-10 finishes in the FedExCup playoffs that concluded the 2017 season. Overall in his first full season on the TOUR, he recorded 11 top-10 finishes and won the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year award on the European Tour.
In 2018, he took fourth place in both the Masters and the PGA Championship. So far this season, he has posted seven top-10 finishes in 11 starts, including a tie for ninth in the Masters after shooting under par all four rounds.
On the final day of the 2018 Ryder Cup, he beat Tiger Woods in their singles match, 2 and 1.
Competing for Arizona State, he became the first player to twice win the Ben Hogan Award, given to the best collegiate golfer. He also won the Jack Nicklaus Award, given to the top Division I collegiate golfer and played on the 2014 World Cup team and the 2015 Palmer Cup squad.
During his collegiate career, he recorded 11 victories, second only to former Sun Devil Phil Mickelson. He won the 2016 individual Pac-12 title and was a three-time All-American. He also won the 2015 Mark McCormack Medal and the 2014 World Amateur Championship, breaking a record held by Jack Nicklaus. Overseas in his native Spain, he won the Spanish Amateur Championship back-to-back in 2014-15.
Ryan Palmer has won three times on the PGA TOUR. This season he has already recorded three top-10 finishes. Playing with fellow Texan Jordan Spieth, they led after the first round then finished fourth in the 2017 Zurich Classic, the first time the tournament was played in the team format.
Palmer also tied for fourth in the 2012 Zurich Classic. He took tenth in the 2011 Masters and tied for fifth in the 2014 PGA Championship.
He missed the fall portion of the 2016-17 season while his wife, Jennifer, underwent chemotherapy to treat Stage 2 breast cancer that was diagnosed in the summer of 2016. Upon his return to the PGA TOUR in 2018, he almost won the Farmers Insurance Open, losing in a playoff eventually won by Jason Day.
The Zurich Classic is the only team tournament on the PGA TOUR season. Since launching the team format two years ago, the Zurich Classic of New Orleans has drawn some of the highest ranking fields for any regular-season tournament on the PGA TOUR. In 2018, the tournament field included six of the top ten players in the world; all four reigning major champions; the U.S. Ryder Cup captain and six members of the U.S. team along with the European Ryder Cup captain with four of his co-captains and six players on the victorious European team.
About Fore!Kids Foundation:
Since 1958, the Fore!Kids Foundation has raised money to fund children’s service organizations through golf events like the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, The Holiday Auction Fore!Kids and several charitable golf tournaments. As a 501(c)(3) corporation, Fore!Kids has helped to raise more than $36 million to date for children’s charities in metro New Orleans and Baton Rouge. More information at http://www.forekidsfoundation.com.
About the Zurich Classic of New Orleans:
Televised in more than 224 countries and territories, the Zurich Classic of New Orleans generates a significant economic impact on the city of New Orleans and the entire state of Louisiana. Independent research has shown that the tournament generates spending of more than $40 million within the local economy and garners $33 million in positive national and international media exposure for both the city and state throughout the year beyond the four days of competition.
The tournament will be played April 22-28, 2019 at TPC Louisiana in Avondale. Purse for 2019 totals $7.3 million, with each member of the winning team earning $1,051,200.
Single-day grounds tickets are only $35 and weekly passes are $85. Single day tickets for the two most popular hospitality venues on the PGA TOUR start at $85 for Acme Oyster House and $185 for The Champions Club. Kids 17 and under are admitted free when accompanied by an adult holding a grounds ticket. Other choices of suite and specialty venue options are available by calling the Tournament Office at 504-342-3000 or online at www.zurichgolfclassic.com.
TONY FINAU PARTNERS WITH KYLE STANLEY IN 2019 ZURICH CLASSIC
Charley Hoffman and former Zurich champ Nick Watney “re-team” this year
NEW ORLEANS, LA (April 11, 2019)—Tony Finau, who famously dislocated his ankle celebrating a hole-in-one during the Masters Par 3 tournament last year, has formed a new team with Kyle Stanley for this year’s Zurich Classic, announced Steve Worthy, CEO of the Fore!Kids Foundation, producer of the tournament.
At the same time, Charley Hoffman and Nick Watney are renewing their partnership in the 2019 Zurich Classic, said Worthy.
“Tony Finau was a member of the 2018 Ryder Cup team, and his partner Kyle Stanley is a proven PGA TOUR member,” said Worthy. “Of course, we always welcome past Zurich Classic champions like Nick Watney back to our tournament, this year playing again with crowd favorite Charley Hoffman, ”added Worthy.
Currently ranked 15thin the world, Finau took second in this season’s World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions, losing a playoff after holding the second and third round leads.
In 2018, he recorded 11 top ten finishes, including a tie for tenth in the Masters after dislocating his ankle during the Par 3 tournament that Wednesday. He also finished fifth in the U.S. Open and tied for ninth in the Open Championship.
Playing with Daniel Summerhays, he took a sixth in the 2018 Zurich Classic.
He made the 2018 Ryder Cup team as a captain’s pick and posted a 2-1 record for the week, tied for best on the U.S. squad.
Finau’s partner Kyle Stanley has won twice on the PGA TOUR, most recently in the 2017 Quicken Loans National. Stanley finished third in the 2013 Zurich Classic and tied for 29thin 2017, playing with Ryan Ruffels in the inaugural team format.
Stanley is ranked 48thin the world.
Hoffman has won four times on TOUR, most recently at the 2017 Valero Texas Open, where he also placed second in the 2019 tournament, two stokes behind winner Corey Connors.
Hoffman finished 12thin the 2018 Masters to automatically qualify for this year’s event. He also took eighth in the 2017 U.S. Open.
He was a member of the winning 2017 Presidents Cup team captained by Steve Stricker, who has since been named captain of the 2020 U.S Ryder Cup team.
The team of Hoffman and Watney finished tied for fifth in the 2017 Zurich Classic and tied for 31stin last year’s event.
Watney has won five times of the PGA TOUR, including his first TOUR victory at the Zurich Classic in 2007.
He played in the 2011 Presidents Cup, the 2009 World Cup and in the collegiate 2002 Palmer Cup.
The Zurich Classic is the only team tournament on the PGA TOUR season. Since launching the team format two years ago, the Zurich Classic of New Orleans has drawn some of the highest ranking fields for any regular-season tournament on the PGA TOUR. In 2018, the tournament field included six of the top ten players in the world; all four reigning major champions; the U.S. Ryder Cup captain and six members of the U.S. team along with the European Ryder Cup captain with four of his co-captains and six players on the victorious European team.
About Fore!Kids Foundation:
Since 1958, the Fore!Kids Foundation has raised money to fund children’s service organizations through golf events like the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, The Holiday Auction Fore!Kids and several charitable golf tournaments. As a 501(c)(3) corporation, Fore!Kids has helped to raise more than $36 million to date for children’s charities in metro New Orleans and Baton Rouge. More information at http://www.forekidsfoundation.com.
About the Zurich Classic of New Orleans:
Televised in more than 224 countries and territories, the Zurich Classic of New Orleans generates a significant economic impact on the city of New Orleans and the entire state of Louisiana. Independent research has shown that the tournament generates spending of more than $40 million within the local economy and garners $33 million in positive national and international media exposure for both the city and state throughout the year beyond the four days of competition.
The tournament will be played April 22-28, 2019 at TPC Louisiana in Avondale. Purse for 2019 totals $7.3 million, with each member of the winning team earning $1,051,200.
Single-day grounds tickets are only $35 and weekly passes are $85. Single day tickets for the two most popular hospitality venues on the PGA TOUR start at $85 for Acme Oyster House and $185 for The Champions Club. Kids 17 and under are admitted free when accompanied by an adult holding a grounds ticket. Other choices of suite and specialty venue options are available by calling the Tournament Office at 504-342-3000 or online at www.zurichgolfclassic.com.
2019 INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENTS CUP CAPTAIN ERNIE ELS WILL TEAM WITH TREVOR IMMELMAN IN ZURICH CLASSIC
Fellow South African Immelman won the Masters in 2008; Els has four major championships in his Hall of Fame career
NEW ORLEANS, LA (April 9, 2019)—International Presidents Cup team captain Ernie Els, who has won the U.S. Open and The Open Championship twice each, will team with 2008 Masters champion Trevor Immelman in this year’s Zurich Classic, announced Steve Worthy, CEO of the Fore!Kids Foundation, producer of the tournament.
“This team adds two more major champions and players with extensive international team experience to our field,” said Worthy. “As Presidents Cup captain, Ernie’s being here helps highlight the potential connection between our unique format and the biennial International team competitions,” added Worthy.
Els joins 2020 Ryder Cup captains Steve Stricker and Padraig Harrington in the Zurich Classic, giving this year’s field three of the four captains for the upcoming biennial international team competitions. In addition, Els’s teammate Trevor Immelman is one of the assistant captains for the international Presidents Cup team.
Els has won 19 PGA TOUR events and no fewer than 47 international tournaments in his Hall of Fame career. He currently ranks eighth in all-time PGA TOUR winnings with more than $49 million.
His last victory on the PGA TOUR was the 2012 Open Championship with a birdie on the 72ndhole to edge out Adam Scott by one stroke. That same year Els lost in a playoff for the Zurich Classic. Els also finished third in the New Orleans tournament in 2001.
In addition to his four major championship victories, Els has finished second six times in major tournaments.
In eight Presidents Cup appearances, he is tied with fellow Hall of Famer Vijay Singh for most matches (40) and ranks as the all-time leader in points won at 21 for the Internationals.
He also played on five World Cup teams and nine Dunhill Cup squads.
Fellow South African Immelman has won twice on the PGA TOUR, including the 2008 Masters after missing the first eight weeks of that season due to treatment and recovery from a benign tumor the year before. Despite scoring a double bogey on the 70th hole, the par 3 16th, Immelman finished with a score of 8 under par to win the Masters by three strokes.
He also finished fifth in the 2005 Masters and tied for sixth in the 2007 PGA Championship. In addition, he has won nine international tournaments. He was named 2006 Rookie of the Year on the PGA TOUR, when he scored 15 top 25 finishes in 24 starts.
He played on two International Presidents Cup teams and four World Cup squads.
The Zurich Classic is the only team tournament on the PGA TOUR season. Since launching the team format two years ago, the Zurich Classic of New Orleans has drawn some of the highest ranking fields for any regular-season tournament on the PGA TOUR. In 2018, the tournament field included six of the top ten players in the world; all four reigning major champions; the U.S. Ryder Cup captain and six members of the U.S. team along with the European Ryder Cup captain with four of his co-captains and six players on the victorious European team.
About Fore!Kids Foundation:
Since 1958, the Fore!Kids Foundation has raised money to fund children’s service organizations through golf events like the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, The Holiday Auction Fore!Kids and several charitable golf tournaments. As a 501(c)(3) corporation, Fore!Kids has helped to raise more than $36 million to date for children’s charities in metro New Orleans and Baton Rouge. More information at http://www.forekidsfoundation.com.
About the Zurich Classic of New Orleans:
Televised in more than 224 countries and territories, the Zurich Classic of New Orleans generates a significant economic impact on the city of New Orleans and the entire state of Louisiana. Independent research has shown that the tournament generates spending of more than $40 million within the local economy and garners $33 million in positive national and international media exposure for both the city and state throughout the year beyond the four days of competition.
The tournament will be played April 22-28, 2019 at TPC Louisiana in Avondale. Purse for 2019 totals $7.3 million, with each member of the winning team earning $1,051,200.
Single-day grounds tickets are only $35 and weekly passes are $85. Single day tickets for the two most popular hospitality venues on the PGA TOUR start at $85 for Acme Oyster House and $185 for The Champions Club. Kids 17 and under are admitted free when accompanied by an adult holding a grounds ticket. Other choices of suite and specialty venue options are available by calling the Tournament Office at 504-342-3000 or online at www.zurichgolfclassic.com.
TWO SOUTH AFRICAN MAJOR CHAMPIONS PAIR UP AGAIN FOR ZURICH CLASSIC
NEW ORLEANS, LA (April 5, 2019)—Two South Africans who have each won a major championship and more than a dozen international titles are pairing up again in the Zurich Classic, announced Steve Worthy, CEO of the Fore!Kids Foundation, producer of the tournament.
Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel took third place in the 2018 Zurich Classic. Last year was the first at the Zurich Classic for Schwartzel and the second for Oosthuizen, who had finished tied for 24thin the 2017 team event, playing with Branden Grace.
Louis and Charl have both won major championships and they have both enjoyed great success internationally,” said Worthy. “Their first partnership here last year resulted in a third place finish, so we expect they will be a team to reckon with again this year,” added Worthy.
Oosthuizen has been playing well recently, with a tie for fifth in last week’s World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play. Earlier in the season he tied for second in the Valspar Championship and tied for fifth in the CIMB Classic.
He is currently ranked 20thin the world. He won The Open Championship in 2010 for his only PGA TOUR title, but has claimed 13 victories on the European and South African tours. He lost playoffs for the Masters in 2012 and The Open Championship in 2015.
He also tied for second in the 2015 U.S. Open and the 2017 PGA Championship, becoming one of only seven players in PGA TOUR history to be a runner-up in all four majors. The others include Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Phil Mickelson, Tom Watson, Greg Norman and Craig Wood. Norman and Wood lost playoffs in each of the four major tournaments.
Oosthuizen has played on the last three International Presidents Cup teams, compiling a 5-3-2 record overall.
Schwartzel won his Masters title in 2011 by two strokes over Australians Jason Day and Adam Scott. His victory came 50 years after fellow countryman Gary Player became the first international winner of a green jacket.
In his career, Schwartzel has placed in the top 25 a total of 77 times on his PGA TOUR since 2005. In addition to his 2011 Masters title, he won the 2016 Valspar Championship. He has won another 13 tournaments on the European, Asian and South African tours.
His best finish this season was a tie for sixth in the Puerto Rico Open.
Schwartzel has played on the last four Presidents Cup teams and the 2011 World Cup team with Oosthuizen. In the 2011 Presidents Cup matches, he was one of four rookies on the International the team and went 3-1-1 in a losing cause against the Americans.
The Zurich Classic is the only team tournament on the PGA TOUR season. Since launching the team format two years ago, the Zurich Classic of New Orleans has drawn some of the highest ranking fields for any regular-season tournament on the PGA TOUR. In 2018, the tournament field included six of the top ten players in the world; all four reigning major champions; the U.S. Ryder Cup captain and six members of the U.S. team along with the European Ryder Cup captain with four of his co-captains and six players on the victorious European team.
About Fore!Kids Foundation:
Since 1958, the Fore!Kids Foundation has raised money to fund children’s service organizations through golf events like the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, The Holiday Auction Fore!Kids and several charitable golf tournaments. As a 501(c)(3) corporation, Fore!Kids has helped to raise more than $36 million to date for children’s charities in metro New Orleans and Baton Rouge. More information at http://www.forekidsfoundation.com.
About the Zurich Classic of New Orleans:
Televised in more than 224 countries and territories, the Zurich Classic of New Orleans generates a significant economic impact on the city of New Orleans and the entire state of Louisiana. Independent research has shown that the tournament generates spending of more than $40 million within the local economy and garners $33 million in positive national and international media exposure for both the city and state throughout the year beyond the four days of competition.
The tournament will be played April 22-28, 2019 at TPC Louisiana in Avondale. Purse for 2019 totals $7.3 million, with each member of the winning team earning $1,051,200.
Single-day grounds tickets are only $35 and weekly passes are $85. Single day tickets for the two most popular hospitality venues on the PGA TOUR start at $85 for Acme Oyster House and $185 for The Champions Club. Kids 17 and under are admitted free when accompanied by an adult holding a grounds ticket. Other choices of suite and specialty venue options are available by calling the Tournament Office at 504-342-3000 or online at www.zurichgolfclassic.com.
WGC Match Play winner Kevin Kisner teams again with Scott Brown in search of a win at Zurich Classic
Pair forced a Monday playoff in first Zurich Classic team event when Kisner chipped in from 90 feet on 18th hole Sunday
NEW ORLEANS, LA (April 4, 2019)—Kevin Kisner, winner of this week’s World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play, will team once again with fellow Aiken, SC resident Scott Brown in the 2019 Zurich Classic, announced Steve Worthy, CEO of the Fore!Kids Foundation, producer of the tournament.
“Kevin and Scott almost won the title in 2017, and are pairing up again in search of victory this year,” said Worthy. “They are among a group of players who have formed the same team for the third time in our unique format, so they know each other’s game very well,” added Worthy.
Kisner and Brown forced a Monday playoff in the first Zurich Classic team event in 2017, when Kisner’s 90-foot eagle chip from off the 18th green found the hole in near darkness that Sunday evening. Kisner and Brown had shot a final-round 12-under 60, tied for lowest round of the week. They began their round Sunday with eight consecutive birdies in the best-ball format to erase a four-stroke deficit at the start of the day.
The team went on to lose the Monday playoff on the fourth hole of sudden death to the team of Jonas Blixt and Cameron Smith.
Kisner moved on from his team’s playoff loss to win the Dean & Deluca Invitational a month later and eventually tied for third in the season-ending TOUR Championship.
Kisner was runner-up in last year’s WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play, losing in the final round to Bubba Watson. This year he beat Matt Kuchar 3 and 2 to become the first runner-up to then win the title. e He lost He lost his opening match to Ian Poulter, to also become the first player to lose his opening match and go on to win the title. He was forced to beat Poulter in a playoff to advance out of group play and into the quarterfinals.
He is ranked 25th in the world, vaulting from 50th after his Match Play victory. In addition to his win in the Match Play this week, he also recorded a tie for seventh in the RSM Classic and has finished in the top 30 in six other tournaments.
Last year he tied for second in The Open Championship. Kisner and Brown tied for 15th in last year’s Zurich Classic after holding the 54-hole lead going into Sunday’s play.
Kisner went undefeated in the 2017 Presidents Cup team competition, compiling a 2-0-2 record, to help the U.S. team in its decisive 19-11 victory.
As an amateur he became the first player in University of Georgia history to be named All-American four times and led the Bulldogs to the 2005 NCAA championship.
Kisner’s playing partner Scott Brown owns one PGA TOUR title in his career that started in 2012 on the TOUR.
So far this season, his best finishes have been a tie for ninth in the Farmers Insurance Open and a tie for tenth in the Puerto Rico Open.
Brown was a two-time Division II All-American and the Division II Jack Nicklaus Award winner for college player of the year at the University of South Carolina-Aiken. He led the USC-Aiken Pacers to three consecutive NCAA Division II national championships from 2004-2006.
The Zurich Classic is the only team tournament on the PGA TOUR season. Since launching the team format two years ago, the Zurich Classic of New Orleans has drawn some of the highest ranking fields for any regular-season tournament on the PGA TOUR. In 2018, the tournament field included six of the top ten players in the world; all four reigning major champions; the U.S. Ryder Cup captain and six members of the U.S. team along with the European Ryder Cup captain with four of his co-captains and six players on the victorious European team.
About Fore!Kids Foundation:
Since 1958, the Fore!Kids Foundation has raised money to fund children’s service organizations through golf events like the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, The Holiday Auction Fore!Kids and several charitable golf tournaments. As a 501(c)(3) corporation, Fore!Kids has helped to raise more than $36 million to date for children’s charities in metro New Orleans and Baton Rouge. More information at http://www.forekidsfoundation.com.
About the Zurich Classic of New Orleans:
Televised in more than 224 countries and territories, the Zurich Classic of New Orleans generates a significant economic impact on the city of New Orleans and the entire state of Louisiana. Independent research has shown that the tournament generates spending of more than $40 million within the local economy and garners $33 million in positive national and international media exposure for both the city and state throughout the year beyond the four days of competition.
The tournament will be played April 22-28, 2019 at TPC Louisiana in Avondale. Purse for 2019 totals $7.3 million, with each member of the winning team earning $1,051,200.
Single-day grounds tickets are only $35 and weekly passes are $85. Single day tickets for the two most popular hospitality venues on the PGA TOUR start at $85 for Acme Oyster House and $185 for The Champions Club. Kids 17 and under are admitted free when accompanied by an adult holding a grounds ticket. Other choices of suite and specialty venue options are available by calling the Tournament Office at 504-342-3000 or online at www.zurichgolfclassic.com.
Veteran International stars to team up with rising countrymen in Zurich Classic
Ryder Cup stalwart Ian Poulter pairs with Sam Horsfield; South African Branden Grace teams with Justin Harding, currently #3 on European Tour
NEW ORLEANS, LA (April 2, 2019)—Two veteran international players have teamed with rising countrymen to compete in the 2019 Zurich Classic, announced Steve Worthy, CEO of the Fore!Kids Foundation, producer of the tournament.
Ian Poulter, a European Ryder Cup stalwart with a lifetime 14-6-2 record, is teaming with Sam Horsfield, who is playing just his second year on the European Tour. South African veteran Branden Grace is pairing with Justin Harding, who currently stands third in European Tour standings and has rocketed his world ranking from 716th to 48th since January 2018.
“Ian Poulter is one of the most successful European players in Ryder Cup history,” said Worthy. “His partner Sam Horsfield enjoyed a successful rookie season on the European Tour last year, and we look forward to his debut here this year,” added Worthy.
“Likewise, we welcome the team of Branden Grace and Justin Harding, who has risen dramatically in world rankings and will be playing his first regular season PGA TOUR event in our tournament,” said Worthy.
In six Ryder Cup competitions, Poulter is 5-0-1 in singles and contributed to the European team victory in last year’s competition with a 2-2 record as a captain’s pick. In 2012, he went 4-0 in leading the European team to its second consecutive victory. He served as vice-captain of the 2016 European team.
Poulter has won three times on the PGA TOUR, most recently in last season’s Houston Open, to go with two World Golf Championship titles. He also has claimed 12 international victories, including the 2011 Volvo World Match Play Championship.
His best finishes this season on the PGA TOUR have been a tie for third in the World Golf Championships-Mexico Classic and a tie for tenth in the CJ Cup @ Nine Bridges. He is currently ranked 33rd in the world.
In addition to his six Ryder Cup appearances, he has also played on six World Cup teams, three Seve Trophy squads and competed in the 2016 Eurasia Cup.
He finished tied for 22nd in last year’s Zurich Classic, partnered with Graeme McDowell. Poulter’s best individual finish at the Zurich Classic was a tie for seventh in 2006.
His teammate Horsfield played collegiately at University of Florida, where he won three tournaments as a freshman in 2015. He turned pro in 2017 and won the final stage of European Tour qualifying by eight shots to earn his card for 2018.
He enjoyed a successful rookie season on the European Tour, recording three top fives and six top tens, including a runner-up finish at the Tshwane Open and a tie for fifth in the Sky Sports British Masters.
In his only start on the PGA TOUR this season, Horsfield tied for 33rd in the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard. In 2018, he tied for 14th in the same tournament.
Branden Grace has played as a member of the PGA TOUR since 2016 after earning special temporary membership during the previous season with a top-125 finish in FedExCup points as a non-member. In his first full season as a member of the PGA TOUR, he won the 2016 RBC Heritage Classic. He has also claimed 11 international victories, including four in 2012 alone.
In the 2017 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, he shot an eight-under 62 in the third round, the lowest score ever recorded in a major championship.
Playing with fellow South African Louis Oosthuizen, Grace tied for 24th in the 2017 Zurich Classic, his first appearance in the tournament. He is currently ranked 43rd in the world. His best finish this season in the U.S. has been a tie for second in the Waste Management Phoenix Open.
Grace has played on three International Presidents Cup teams and went undefeated over four matches in the 2015 competition.
Harding won his first European Tour title in March, his fifth victory in the last 12 months worldwide. He also claimed two Asian Tour victories and two Sunshine Tour triumphs in July 2018 and May 2018, respectively. In addition to his win, he has a fourth and a tie for second on the European Tour this season, vaulting him to third place in the Race to Dubai standings. He tied for 17th in this week’s World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play.
As recently as January, 2018, his world ranking was 716. He didn’t break into the top 100 in the world until last September. At his current position of 48th, he is qualified for the Masters next week.
The Zurich Classic is the only team tournament on the PGA TOUR season. Since launching the team format two years ago, the Zurich Classic of New Orleans has drawn some of the highest ranking fields for any regular-season tournament on the PGA TOUR. In 2018, the tournament field included six of the top ten players in the world; all four reigning major champions; the U.S. Ryder Cup captain and six members of the U.S. team along with the European Ryder Cup captain with four of his co-captains and six players on the victorious European team.
About Fore!Kids Foundation:
Since 1958, the Fore!Kids Foundation has raised money to fund children’s service organizations through golf events like the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, The Holiday Auction Fore!Kids and several charitable golf tournaments. As a 501(c)(3) corporation, Fore!Kids has helped to raise more than $36 million to date for children’s charities in metro New Orleans and Baton Rouge. More information at http://www.forekidsfoundation.com.
About the Zurich Classic of New Orleans:
Televised in more than 224 countries and territories, the Zurich Classic of New Orleans generates a significant economic impact on the city of New Orleans and the entire state of Louisiana. Independent research has shown that the tournament generates spending of more than $40 million within the local economy and garners $33 million in positive national and international media exposure for both the city and state throughout the year beyond the four days of competition.
The tournament will be played April 22-28, 2019 at TPC Louisiana in Avondale. Purse for 2019 totals $7.3 million, with each member of the winning team earning $1,051,200.
Single-day grounds tickets are only $35 and weekly passes are $85. Single day tickets for the two most popular hospitality venues on the PGA TOUR start at $85 for Acme Oyster House and $185 for The Champions Club. Kids 17 and under are admitted free when accompanied by an adult holding a grounds ticket. Other choices of suite and specialty venue options are available by calling the Tournament Office at 504-342-3000 or online at www.zurichgolfclassic.com.
BOTH U.S. AND EUROPEAN 2020 RYDER CUP CAPTAINS FORM TEAMS TO PLAY THE 2019 ZURICH CLASSIC
U.S. captain Steve Stricker will partner with close friend Jerry Kelly and European captain Padraig Harrington will team with countryman Shane Lowry
NEW ORLEANS, LA (March 26, 2019)—Both 2020 Ryder Cup captains have formed their own teams to play the 2019 Zurich Classic, announced Steve Worthy, CEO of the Fore!Kids Foundation, producer of the tournament.
“Having both 2020 Ryder Cup captains playing our tournament indicates the importance they see in mid-season team play,” said Worthy. “Steve Stricker and his partner Jerry Kelly have both played here many times, with Jerry winning our tournament in 2009. Padraig Harrington is a three-time major champion who has also had success here before,” added Worthy.
Stricker has won 12 times on the PGA TOUR and three times on the PGA TOUR Champions. All three Champions Tour victories were scored in 2018, Stricker’s second year on the senior circuit.
He served as captain of the victorious American Presidents Cup team in 2017, after playing as a member of the team five times. He also played on three Ryder Cup teams and served as vice-captain three times.
In his PGA TOUR career that started in 1990, Stricker ranks 15th in all-time earnings with nearly $44 million. At the Zurich Classic, he has finished in the top 10 three times and the top 20 nine times. He teamed with Jerry Kelly to earn a tie for 14th in the 2017 Zurich Classic, the first time using the team format.
Kelly graduated to the Champions Tour in 2017, the same year as his close friend Stricker. He won the 2017 Rookie of the Year award and in only two years won three Champions victories to go with his three PGA TOUR titles.
Before he left the PGA TOUR fulltime after the 2016 season, he advanced to the FedExCup playoffs ten consecutive years.
Harrington won the 2007 Open Championship at Carnoustie in a playoff against Sergio Garcia. He then came back the next year to win both the 2008 Open Championship and the PGA Championship, becoming the first European to win back-to-back major titles.
He also earned a tie for fourth in the 2008 Zurich Classic and finished that season eighth in PGA TOUR money winnings. He has won a total of six PGA TOUR titles and 20 international tournaments in his career.
Harrington has established a reputation as one of Europe’s most active team players. He earned a place on the European Ryder Cup team six times and on the World Cup 11 times consecutively from 1996 through 2006. He also played in four Seve Cup competitions and four Dunhill Cup contests. He represented Ireland in the 2016 Olympics. As an amateur, he played on the winning Walker Cup team against the U.S. in 1985.
He served as vice-captain of the European Ryder Cup teams in 2014, 2016 and 2018 before being named captain for next year’s competition at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin. He will be the third professional from Ireland to serve as European Ryder Cup captain, following Paul McGinley in 2014 and Darren Clarke in 2016.
In addition to his tie for fourth in the 2008 Zurich Classic, he tied for ninth in the 2005 tournament. He and Lowry finished tied for 28th in last year’s Zurich Classic.
Harrington’s teammate Shane Lowry started playing a full schedule on the PGA TOUR in 2015. He won the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in 2015 and has claimed four European Tour titles, most recently at the 2019 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA.
Currently ranked 47th in the world, Lowry recorded his best finish this season in a tie for 10th in the ISPS Handa World Cup. He tied for second in the 2016 U.S. Open and tied for ninth in the 2014 Open Championship.
He has played in three World Cups and one Eurasia Cup. Before turning professional, he won the Irish Amateur Closed Championship and was a member of the winning Irish team in the European Amateur Team Championship in 2007 and 2008.
The Zurich Classic is the only team tournament on the PGA TOUR season. Since launching the team format two years ago, the Zurich Classic of New Orleans has drawn some of the highest ranking fields for any regular-season tournament on the PGA TOUR. In 2018, the tournament field included six of the top ten players in the world; all four reigning major champions; the U.S. Ryder Cup captain and six members of the U.S. team along with the European Ryder Cup captain with four of his co-captains and six players on the victorious European team.
About Fore!Kids Foundation:
Since 1958, the Fore!Kids Foundation has raised money to fund children’s service organizations through golf events like the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, The Holiday Auction Fore!Kids and several charitable golf tournaments. As a 501(c)(3) corporation, Fore!Kids has helped to raise more than $37 million to date for children’s charities in metro New Orleans and Baton Rouge. More information at http://www.forekidsfoundation.com.
About the Zurich Classic of New Orleans:
Televised in more than 224 countries and territories, the Zurich Classic of New Orleans generates a significant economic impact on the city of New Orleans and the entire state of Louisiana. Independent research has shown that the tournament generates spending of more than $40 million within the local economy and garners $33 million in positive national and international media exposure for both the city and state throughout the year beyond the four days of competition.
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