Bello has never played Zurich Classic; Garcia last played in 2010

 NEW ORLEANS, LA (March 6, 2018)—Defending Masters champion Sergio Garcia, ranked 11^th in the world,  has committed to team with Rafael Cabrera Bello, ranked 21^st  in the world, announced Steve Worthy, CEO of the Fore!Kids Foundation, producer of the tournament.

Cabrera Bello has never played the Zurich Classic, and Garcia last played here in 2010.

“We are delighted to welcome Sergio back to our tournament,” said Worthy. “His play has electrified fans around the world for nearly two decades,” added Worthy. “We are equally excited to welcome Rafa Cabrera Bello to his debut in New Orleans at the Zurich Classic,” said Worthy. “He is playing only his second full year on the PGA TOUR, successfully partnered with Sergio Garcia in the 2016 Ryder Cup and just tied for third in the WGC Mexico Championship.”

Garcia has won 10 times on the PGA TOUR and 21 times internationally, including 12 European Tour titles. He broke through with his first major title at the 2017 Masters when he birdied the first playoff hole to beat Justin Rose, the 2015 Zurich Classic winner.

He has won more than $47 million on the PGA TOUR, ranking seventh all time.

He has played on eight Ryder Cup European teams and twice each on Seve Trophy and Dunhill Cup teams. He also represented Spain in the 2016 Olympics, when Rose won the gold medal.

He set a record as the youngest player to made the cut on the European Tour at age 14, and won his first tournament, the Catalonian Open, at 17. In 1999 at age 19, he was named the European Tour’s Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year.

Cabrera Bello has won three times on the European Tour. He was also a prodigy, as he began playing golf at 6 years old and won the Spanish National Championship every year from age 7 to age 18. Ironically, he made his European Tour debut in 2002 at Open de Espana and was within striking distance of Sergio Garcia before finishing tied for fourth, six strokes behind Garcia.

This season, his best finishes have been a tie for third in the WGC-Mexico Championship, fifth in the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions and a tie for 10^th in the CIMB Classic.

With Garcia, he represented Spain in the 2016 Olympics. He and Garcia went 1-0-1 playing as a team in the 2016 European Ryder Cup. He also made the World Cup in 2013 and 2016.

The Zurich Classic is the only team tournament on the PGA TOUR season.  This year’s 72-hole stroke team play format will feature Four-Ball (best ball) during the first and third rounds and Foursomes (alternate shot) during the second and fourth rounds. The starting field will consist of 80 teams. Following the conclusion of the second round, the field will be cut to the low 35 teams and ties. In case of a tie after 72 holes, there will be a sudden-death playoff using the Four-Ball format.

 

Kuchar has not played in New Orleans since 2009; Watson won his 10^th PGA TOUR tournament at the Genesis Open in February

 NEW ORLEANS, LA (March 6, 2018)— Bubba Watson, who won the Zurich Classic of New Orleans in 2011, then went on to win two Masters titles, will team with Matt Kuchar in the 2018 Zurich Classic that features a team format unique on the PGA TOUR, announced Steve Worthy, CEO of the Fore!Kids Foundation, producer of the tournament.

“Bubba and Matt are both fan favorites, attracting large, enthusiastic galleries wherever they play,” said Worthy. “We expect they will draw some of our tournament’s largest followings in this year’s Zurich Classic as well,” Worthy added.

Currently ranked 20^th  in the world, Kuchar last played the Zurich Classic in 2009. His best finish here was in 2004, when he tied for tenth.

He ranks 13th all-time in money winnings on the PGA TOUR, with a total of more than $42 million. He has won seven times on the TOUR and twice internationally. His best finish in the current season is a tie for fifth in the Waste Management Phoenix Open.

Kuchar excelled at the majors last year, with a tie for fourth in the Masters, a sole second in The Open Championship in a memorable duel with Jordan Spieth and a tie for ninth in the PGA Championship.

Kuchar has played in four Ryder Cups, four Presidents Cups, two World Cups, the 1998 World Amateur Championship and the 1999 Walker Cup.

He also represented the U.S. in the 2016 Olympics when he captured the bronze medal after matching the course record of 63 in the final round to earn his place on the podium.

He won the 1997 U.S. Amateur after Tiger Woods’ three straight championships. His amateur title earned him entry to the Masters and the U.S. Open the next year. He placed 21^st in the Masters, the best finish by an amateur in 20 years, and finished tied for 14^th in the U.S. Open played at the Olympic Club in San Francisco.

Bubba Watson has won ten times on the PGA TOUR, most recently at the Genesis Open this season. His win there vaulted him into the top 40 players in the world, and he currently ranks 38^th.

He ranks 16th in all-time TOUR winnings with $38 million in prize money. In addition to his win at the Zurich Classic in 2011, he also finished fifth in the 2007 tournament and tied for fifth with J. B. Holmes in last year’s event, his best finish in the 2016-17 season.

He won the Masters in 2012 and 2014, tied for fifth in the 2007 U.S. Open, and took a sole second in the 2010 PGA Championship.

He has played on two President’s Cup teams and three Ryder Cup teams.

In 2015, he donated $100,000 to assist with recovery efforts after the devastating floods in Louisiana. His longtime caddy, Ted Scott, is from the Lafayette area. Watson is a part owner of the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, the Double-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds, and opened a candy store in Pensacola where his mom Molly sometimes works.

The Zurich Classic is the only team tournament on the PGA TOUR season.  This year’s 72-hole stroke team play format will feature Four-Ball (best ball) during the first and third rounds and Foursomes (alternate shot) during the second and fourth rounds. The starting field will consist of 80 teams. Following the conclusion of the second round, the field will be cut to the low 35 teams and ties. In case of a tie after 72 holes, there will be a sudden-death playoff using the Four-Ball format.