New Orleans (March 14, 2005) – David Toms, the winner of the 2001 Classic of New Orleans, and Steve Flesch, the 2003 winner, have committed to play in this year’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans, scheduled for April 25 through May 1 at the Tournament Players Club of Louisiana. Other players committing to the tournament include TPC of Louisiana Player Consultants Steve Elkington and Kelly Gibson.

Toms has 11 victories on the PGA TOUR, including the 2001 PGA Championship, back-to-back wins at the FedEx St. Jude Classic and the 2005 WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship. Toms, a fan favorite and LSU graduate, is ranked second on the PGA TOUR money list with three top-10 finishes this year and sixth on the career money list. This will be Toms’ 12 th appearance at the New Orleans event.

Flesch followed his win in New Orleans with a victory at the Bank of America Colonial in 2004. He has finished in the top 75 on the money list in each of his seven years on TOUR. In 2004, he surpassed the $1 million mark in earnings for the fifth consecutive season and moved into the top-50 on the TOUR’s career money list. This will be Flesch’s eighth consecutive year at the tournament.

Elkington holds 10 PGA TOUR victories, including the 1991 and 1997 THE PLAYERS Championships and the 1995 PGA Championship. He has played in the New Orleans tournament 12 times and is ranked in the top-50 career money leaders. Elkington is a four-time member of both the Presidents Cup and Dunhill Cup teams.

Gibson, who makes his home in New Orleans, has played the New Orleans tournament every year since 1990. He was closely involved in the creation of the TPC of Louisiana as a Player Consultant to designer Pete Dye. Gibson played in 10 PGA TOUR events in 2004, making four cuts. Gibson is ranked in the top-50 career money leaders on the Nationwide Tour.

About the Fore!Kids Foundation: The Fore!Kids Foundation produces the annual stop on the PGA TOUR in New Orleans. The Foundation also hosts an annual American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) event at the Tournament Players Club of Louisiana, a summer Junior Golf Program, the Golf Ball (a black tie gala) as well as a series of events in which amateurs participate and the proceeds are distributed to a specific charity. In the last five years alone, the Foundation has been able to raise more than $5 million for area charities. Additionally, the Fore!Kids Foundation, through the PGA TOUR event, provides an estimated $24 million in annual economic impact to the City and State. The tournament is televised to an international audience, allowing millions of people to see some of the area's greatest attractions.

About Zurich Financial Services: Zurich Financial Services (www.zurich.com) is an insurance-based financial services provider with a global network that focuses its activities on its key markets in North America and Europe. Founded in 1872, Zurich is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. Through its offices in more than 50 countries, 62,000 Zurich employees serve clients in more than 120 countries. In North America (www.zurichna.com), Zurich is a leading commercial property-casualty insurance provider serving the large global corporate, middle market and small business sectors.

Also a member of the Zurich global network in North America is the Farmers Insurance Group (www.farmers.com). Farmers is the third largest personal lines insurance group in the United States, providing auto, home, specialty, small business, life and investment products.