A PAIR OF PAIRS WILL PAIR UP FOR 2024 ZURICH CLASSIC OF NEW ORLEANS

Two sets of twin brothers will play, a first in history of the PGA Tour

 NEW ORLEANS, LA (April 2, 2024)— Parker and  Pierceson Coody became the first twins to play in the same group of a PGA Tour event at this week’s Texas Children’s Houston Open. Now the Zurich Classic of New Orleans has doubled up on that historic first.

Not just one but two sets of twin brothers will play as teams in the 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans, a first in the history of the PGA Tour, announced Steve Worthy, CEO of the Fore!Kids Foundation, producer of the tournament.

The Coody brothers, third generation PGA Tour professionals, and Nicolai and Rasmus Højgaard, identical twins from Denmark, have entered the Zurich Classic as sibling teams.

“All four of these young players have shown real promise for future success on the PGA Tour, and we are excited to see how they fare together as playing partners this year,” said Worthy. “Rasmus and Nicolai Højgaard have won a total of seven times on the DP European Tour, and Nicolai was on the winning European Ryder Cup team last fall , so they know what it takes to win,” added Worthy.

The Coody twins have professional golf in their DNA. Their grandfather, Charles Coody, won the 1971 Masters, one of his three victories on the PGA Tour. When Charles played in his last Masters in 2006, his grandsons, then six years old, caddied for him in the Wednesday Par 3 contest, with each putting on alternate holes. Pierceson made a 40-footer on the ninth and final hole.

Their father Kyle made more than 20 starts on the Korn Ferry Tour and played on the Asian and Canadian tours.

Parker, 37 minutes older than Pierceson, earned his PGA Tour card this season after finishing in the top 30 on the Korn Ferry Tour points list last year. So far this season, he has made four cuts in six tournaments he has entered, including top-25 finishes in the Farmers Insurance Open and the Mexico Open.

Pierceson also qualified for the PGA Tour by scoring in the top 30 of the Korn Ferry Tour last season. While still playing the Korn Ferry Tour last year, he tied for 14^th in the 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard.

Both followed their father’s footstep in college, playing for University of Texas, and both turned pro in 2022.

The Højgaard brothers turned professional in 2019 after leading Denmark to that country’s first Eisenhower Trophy in the World Amateur Team Championship. They played Foursomes together for Europe in the 2018 Junior Ryder Cup.

Rasmus became the first player born in the 21^st century to graduate from the European Tour Qualifying School . He claimed his first European title right after that, winning the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open in his fourth start at 18 years and 271 days old.

He has won four international titles, including the European Masters in 2021. On the PGA Tour, he scored two top-10- finishes in 2022, with a sixth in the Corales Puntacana Championship and a tie for tenth in the Genesis Scottish Open.

A week after Rasmus’s third European victory, his brother Nicolai took his own first title at the Italian Open. A last-minute wild-card entry, Nicolai birdied the final hole to finish one stroke ahead of Tommy Fleetwood.

On this year’s PGA Tour, Nicolai took sole second in the Farmers Insurance Open. Last season he posted a second at the Corales Puntacana Championship and a tie for sixth at the Genesis Scottish Open. Paired with Thorbjørn Oleson, he finished 32^nd in last year’s Zurich Classic.

The Højgaards are the first brothers in the history of the DP World Tour to win titles on consecutive weeks. They also became the first twins to compete in The Open Championship in last year’s event.

Nicolai played on the victorious 2023 European Ryder Cup team. In November he won the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, firing a 64 in the final round. He is currently ranked 37^th in the world.

According to PGA Tour records, the Højgaard brothers have played together in more than one PGA Tour event, including the PGA Championship and The Open Championship last year, but never in the same group or paired in a team event.

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 and several charitable golf tournaments.

In 2023, the Fore!Kids Foundation generated a record $2.843 million in charitable giving for children’s charities in the New Orleans and Baton Rouge metro areas. Charitable contributions have been rising in recent years:

• Over $2.843 Million to charities in 2023
• Over $20 Million to charities in last 10 years
• Over $48 Million to charities since inception

More information at http://www.forekidsfoundation.com.

About the Zurich Classic of New Orleans:

 Zurich Insurance has sponsored the Zurich Classic of New Orleans for 20 years, one of the longest title sponsor relationships on the PGA Tour. The Zurich Classic is the only team tournament on the PGA TOUR season. Since launching the team format in 2017, the Zurich Classic of New Orleans has drawn some of the highest-ranking fields for any regular-season tournament on the PGA TOUR.

The Zurich Classic has over a $40 million economic impact to the regional economy. With 42 hours of total television coverage on Golf Channel and CBS, a total of 13 million viewers tuned in to watch the tournament.

Internationally, PGA TOUR coverage of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans is available across 148 countries and territories via local broadcast partners, and garners $33 million in positive national and international media exposure for both the city and state throughout the year beyond the days of professional competition.

The tournament will be played April 24-28, 2024, at TPC Louisiana in Avondale. Purse for 2024 totals a record $8.9 million, with each member of the winning team earning $1,286,050 and 400 FedExCup points.

All tickets to the 2024 Zurich Classic will be mobile entry only. Day-specific grounds tickets are only $40.  In addition, the Best of the Zurich Class Pass offers a variety of dishes from some of New Orleans most famous restaurants at three locations across the TPC course starting at $175 per day, and the Walk-On’s Stadium Club will offer close-up viewing at the 17^th hole in the only two-story, air-conditioned tent on the course. Additional ticket options are available by calling the Tournament Office at 504-342-3000 or online at www.zurichgolfclassic.com