South Africans Louis Oosthuizen and Branden Grace form team to debut in 2017 Zurich Classic

2007 Zurich Champion Nick Watney will partner with Charley Hoffman, second place finisher in last week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational

NEW ORLEANS, LA (March 22, 2017)—Two South African players who are ranked in the top 30 in the world but have never played the Zurich Classic will make their debut as a team in the 2017 event, announced Steve Worthy, CEO of the Fore!Kids Foundation, producer of the tournament.

Branden Grace, who is ranked 19th in the world, will team with fellow South African Louis Oosthuizen, who is ranked 27th.  Grace and Oosthuizen were 4-0 as a team in the 2015 Presidents Cup.

“The addition of these two top-ranked international stars who have never played our event speaks volumes about the attention our new team format is generating,” said Worthy. “Grace and Oosthuizen have 23 international victories between them, including Louis winning The Open Championship in 2010,” add Worthy.

Grace won the RBC Heritage last year to add to his 10 international titles on the South African and European tours. His best finishes this season have been a tie for 13th at the Sony Open in Hawaii and a tie for 22^nd at the Genesis Open.

He played on the last two International Presidents Cup teams in 2013 and 2015. He has finished in the top five in each of the last two years in both the U.S. Open and the PGA Championship.

Oosthuizen has won 13 times internationally on the South African and European tours. In addition to his victory in the 2010 Open Championship, he was involved in a playoff for the 2012 Masters and the 2015 Open Championship.

With eight victories on the European Tour, he ranks fourth among South African players for  wins on that circuit. He also played on the International Presidents Cup teams in 2013 and 2015.

His best finish this season on the PGA TOUR was a third at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. He has qualified for the FedExCup Playoffs the last three years.

Joining Oosthuizen and Grace will be the team of Nick Watney, winner of the Zurich Classic in 2007, and Charley Hoffman, who together have won nine PGA TOUR events.

Watney is playing this season on a major medical extension but has won five times on the PGA TOUR, including his first victory at the Zurich Classic in 2007. His game is rounding into form this season coming off injury, with three top 15 finishes in his last four tournaments.

His partner, Charley Hoffman, has won four times on TOUR, most recently in last year’s Valero Texas Open. His best finishes so far this season are a tie for second at last week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational and a tie for fourth at the Genesis Open. He is currently ranked 48th in the world.

He finished tied for 11th in last year’s Zurich Classic. A regular at the  Zurich Classic, his best finish was a fifth in 2014.

The latest commitments add to what is shaping up as the strongest field in years for the Zurich Classic, with four players ranked in the world’s top 10.

Already announced are the teams of Jason Day with Rickie Fowler and Justin Rose with Henrik Stenson in this year’s unique team format. Day was ranked number one in the world for 47 weeks and is currently third. Fowler is ranked 9th  in the world, Rose is 13th and Stenson is fifth.

Also entered are Justin Thomas, winner of three tournaments this season and currently ranked th in the world, along with Bubba Watson, 2011 Zurich Classic champion, currently ranked 17th.

The new 72-hole stroke play format will feature Foursomes (alternate shot) during the first and third rounds and Four-Ball (best ball) during the second and fourth rounds. The starting field will consist of a field of 80 teams. Following the conclusion of the second round, the field will be cut to the low 35 teams and ties at the 35th position. In case of a tie after 72 holes, there will be a sudden-death playoff using the Four-Ball format.

Former LSU players John Peterson and Andrew Loupe enter as a team, and Smylie Kaufman partners with Harold Varner III, who once wore another’s purple and gold

NEW ORLEANS, LA (March 14, 2017)—Another SEC pair has joined the 2017 Zurich Classic, expanding the emerging rivalry among schools, announced Steve Worthy, CEO of the Fore!Kids Foundation, producer of the tournament.

John Peterson and Andrew Loupe, who both played for LSU, have announced they will form a team to play in this year’s Zurich Classic, joining the Auburn pairing of Jason Dufner with Patton Kizzire and the Alabama team of Justin Thomas with Bud Cauley.

“Our new team format is reviving some old college rivalries,” said Worthy. “We are also seeing indications of some other college airings as player commitments start to [ick up the pace,” Worthy added.

In addition to Peterson and Loupe, former LSU player Smylie Kaufman is teaming with Harold Varner III, who also wore purple and gold in college—for East Carolina University.

Peterson is playing the PGA TOUR on a major medical exemption after missing virtually all of last season due to wrist surgery. So far this season, he has posted a tie for 12^th in the Waste Management Phoenix Open and a tie for 15^th in the OHL Classic in Mayakoba. In 2013, he tied for eighth in the Zurich Classic, a year after he tied for fourth in the U.S. Open.

He was a three-time All-American and won the NCAA individual title in 2011 while playing for LSU.

Loupe, a two-time All-American at LSU, advanced to the FedExCup Playoffs last year on the strength of a solid season that featured a tie for third in the Career Builder Challenge, his best showing in his PGA TOUR career. He missed the cut in last year’s Zurich Classic.

Kaufman won the second tournament of his rookie PGA TOUR season in 2016-17 at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, where he shot a final round of 61, punching his ticket for the Masters. He came from seven strokes behind on the last round of the tournament and had to wait two and a half hours before the final group holed out.

The week before his victory, he tied for 10th in the Frys.com Open in the very first tournament of his rookie season. He has also finished tied for eighth in the World Golf Championships-Cadillac  Championship last season. He missed the cut in last year’s Zurich Classic after posting a 68 in the first round.

At LSU, he was named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll team each year between 2011-14. A native and resident of Birmingham, AL, we won the 2011 Alabama State Amateur Championship.

Varner won the Australian PGA Championship in 2016 by posting opening and closing rounds of 65. He was one of seven rookies to advance to the FedExCup Playoffs last year, with four top-10 finishes among his seven top-25 showings in his first year on TOUR. One of those top-10 finishes last year was a tie for eighth in the Zurich Classic.

At East Carolina, he was named Conference USA Player of the Year in 2012 and made the all-conference team three times.

The latest commitments add to what is shaping up as the strongest field in years for the Zurich Classic, with four players ranked in the world’s top 10.

Already announced are the teams of Jason Day with Rickie Fowler and Justin Rose with Henrik Stenson in this year’s unique team format. Day was ranked number one in the world for 47 weeks and is currently second. Fowler is ranked 9^th  in the world, Rose is 13^th and Stenson is fifth.

Also entered are Justin Thomas, winner of three tournaments this season and currently ranked 7^th in the world, along with Bubba Watson, 2011 Zurich Classic champion, currently ranked 17^th.

The new 72-hole stroke play format will feature Foursomes (alternate shot) during the first and third rounds and Four-Ball (best ball) during the second and fourth rounds. The starting field will consist of a field of 80 teams. Following the conclusion of the second round, the field will be cut to the low 35 teams and ties at the 35^th position. In case of a tie after 72 holes, there will be a sudden-death playoff using the Four-Ball format.

TWO MORE FORMER ZURICH CLASSIC CHAMPS—Jerry Kelly and Jason DUfner–ANNOUNCE TEAMS TO COMPETE IN 2017 TOURNAMENT

U.S. Presidents Cup captain Steve Stricker will team with 2009 winner Jerry Kelly and 2012 champion Jason Dufner will pair with Patton Kizzire

NEW ORLEANS, LA (March 9, 2017)— Two more former Zurich Classic champions have formed their teams to play in this year’s tournament, announced Steve Worthy, CEO of the Fore!Kids Foundation, producer of the tournament.

Jerry Kelly, 2009 Zurich winner, will team with Steve Stricker, who has been named captain of this year’s U.S. Presidents Cup team. Jason Dufner, who won in 2012, has paired with Patton Kizzire. Both Dufner and Kizzire played for Auburn in college.

“We are starting to see some SEC rivalries emerge in our field of 80 teams this year, with an Alabama team and now an Auburn pair,” said Worthy. “Jerry Kelly and Steve Stricker are close personal friends, and I know Steve will be paying particular interest in how some of these teams compete as he prepares to captain the U.S. team in the Presidents Cup later this year,” added Worthy.

Dufner won the first of his four PGA TOUR titles at the 2012 Zurich Classic, then went on to win the PGA Championship the next year. Prior to his win in 2012, Dufner enjoyed a series of three straight top-ten finishes at the Zurich Classic, with a T9, T7 and T3 from 2009-2011. He advanced to the FedExCup Playoffs last year for the eighth time in his career and qualified for the TOUR Championship for the fifth time. He last played in the Zurich Classic in 2013, finishing tied for 42^n..

Kelly made an impressive showing with a tie for third earlier this year in his first PGA Champions Tour event. He has won three times on the PGA TOUR and qualified for the FedfExCup Playoffs last season for his tenth consecutive time, one of only 16 players to ever do so. He is a regular competitor in the Zurich Classic, famous for eating charbroiled oysters on the 18^th green during his winner’s ceremony in 2009.

Stricker has won 12 times on the PGA TOUR and twice in Canada. He also won the 2009 Shark Shootout, an unofficial team event, with Jerry Kelly as his partner. He has played on five Presidents Cup teams and three Ryder Cup teams before being named Presidents Cup captain for 2017. Playing on a limited schedule last season, he finished fourth in The Open Championship. He played in last year’s Zurich Classic, finishing tied for 58^th.

Kizzire finished second in this season’s first event, the Safeway Open. He made the FedExCup Playoffs last season in his rookie year, one of only seven first-year players to advance that far. He recorded five top-10 finishes last season, placing him 40^th in FedExCup standings. He tied for eighth in last year’s Zurich Classic, his first time at the tournament.

The addition of Dufner and Kelly brings the number of past Zurich champions playing this year to eight, including:

• Brian Stuard (2016) with Chris Stroud
• Justin Rose (2015) with Henrik Stenson
• Seung-Yul Noh (2014) and Byeong Hun An
• Bubba Watson (2011) and J.B. Holmes
• Jason Bohn (2010) with Carl Pettersson
• K.J. Choi (2002) with Charlie Wi

The latest commitments add to what is shaping up as the strongest field in years for the Zurich Classic, said Worthy. Already announced are the teams of Jason Day with Rickie Fowler and Justin Rose with Henrik Stenson in this year’s unique team format. Day was ranked number one in the world for 47 weeks and is currently second. Fowler is ranked 9^th  in the world, Rose is 13^th and Stenson is sixth. Also entered is Justin Thomas, winner of three tournament this season and currently ranked 7^th in the world.

The new 72-hole stroke play format will feature Foursomes (alternate shot) during the first and third rounds and Four-Ball (best ball) during the second and fourth rounds. The starting field will consist of a field of 80 teams. Following the conclusion of the second round, the field will be cut to the low 35 teams and ties at the 35^th position. In case of a tie after 72 holes, there will be a sudden-death playoff using the Four-Ball format.

Justin Thomas, 7^th in the world & 3-time winner this year, teams with fellow Alabama Alum Bud Cauley in 2017 Zurich Classic

 Three other former Zurich Classic champions also commit to play in this year’s new team format unique on PGA TOUR

 NEW ORLEANS, LA (March 7, 2017)— Justin Thomas, already the winner of three PGA TOUR titles this season and currently ranked seventh in the world, will team with fellow University of Alabama alum Bud Cauley to play the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, announced Steve Worthy, CEO of the Fore!Kids Foundation, producer of the tournament.

“Justin is one of the hottest players on TOUR right now, part of the new generation of players in their 20s who are having incredible early success,” said Worthy.

In addition to Thomas and Cauley, three more former Zurich Classic champions announced their commitments and player partners:

• Brian Stuard (2016) with Chris Stroud
• Jason Bohn (2010) with Carl Pettersson
• K.J. Choi (2002) with Charlie Wi

Bubba Watson, 2011 Zurich Classic champion announced last week he will team up with J.B. Holmes in this year’s tournament featuring the unique team format.

Thomas, who will turn 24 during the Zurich Classic, won both tournaments in Hawaii to start 2017, after repeating as champion of the CIMB Classic at the beginning of the 2016-17 wraparound season. He currently ranks first on TOUR in FedExCup points. During the Sony Open in January, he became the youngest player in TOUR history to break 60, when he carded a 59 in the first round on his way to a runaway seven-stroke victory.

He finished fifth in this week’s World Golf Championships—Mexico Open, where he held the 54-hole lead after taking the third-round lead with a hole-in-one at the 232-yard, par-3 13th hole.

Thomas finished 12^th in the 2015 Zurich Classic during his first full year on TOUR.

A native of Louisville, KY, he led the University of Alabama to the NCAA championship in 2013, his sophomore year. A first-team All-American in 2012, he won the Phil Mickelson Award as the top collegiate freshman to go with the 2012 Haskins Award and 2012 Nicklaus Award, presented annually to the top college player. He earned his PGA TOUR card after only his first year on the Web.com Tour.

Thomas’s teammate Cauley also played for the University of Alabama and earned his PGA TOUR card off of the non-member money list in just eight starts. Only six other players earned their PGA TOUR card straight from college without having to go to the Qualifying School, including Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.

His best finish this season was a tie for third in the Career Builder Challenge. He played the 2015-16 season on a major medical exemption and earned enough money to gain full TOUR status this year. He last played the Zurich Classic in 2014, when he finished 11^th.

Thomas and Cauley boast undefeated records in Walker Cup team play as amateurs. Thomas went 2-0-1 on the 2013 team, and Cauley posted a record of 3-0-1 in the 2009 match, both won by the U.S.

The latest commitments add to what is shaping up as the strongest field in years for the Zurich Classic, said Worthy. Already announced are the teams of Jason Day with Rickie Fowler and Justin Rose with Henrik Stenson in this year’s unique team format. Day was ranked number one in the world for 47 weeks and is currently second. Fowler is ranked 9^th  in the world, Rose is 13^th and Stenson is sixth.

The new 72-hole stroke play format will feature Foursomes (alternate shot) during the first and third rounds and Four-Ball (best ball) during the second and fourth rounds. The starting field will consist of a field of 80 teams. Following the conclusion of the second round, the field will be cut to the low 35 teams and ties at the 35^th position. In case of a tie after 72 holes, there will be a sudden-death playoff using the Four-Ball format.

Bubba Watson, two-time Masters winner & 2011 Zurich Classic champion, will team with J.B. Holmes in 2017 Tournament

2014 Zurich Classic winner Seung-Yul Noh, will partner with Byeong Hun An, who made the playoff in the 2016 tournament

New Orleans, LA (March 1, 2017)— Bubba Watson, who won the Zurich Classic of New Orleans in 2011, then went on to win two Masters titles, will team with J.B. Holmes in the 2017 Zurich Classic that features a new team format unique on the PGA TOUR this year, announced Steve Worthy, CEO of the Fore!Kids Foundation, producer of the tournament.

In addition to Watson and Holmes, two PGA TOUR players from Korea have teamed up for the 2017 Zurich Classic: 2014 champion Seung-Yul Noh and Byeong Hun An, who made the three-person playoff in the 2016 event.

“Bubba has always been a fan favorite here,” said Worthy, “and we are excited to welcome J.B. Holmes back to our tournament. Their style of play featuring imaginative shots and dramatic saves excites both casual and experienced golf fans everywhere.”

Watson, currently ranked 15^th in the world, has won nine times on the PGA TOUR and is ranked 15^th in all time TOUR winnings, with $35.5 million in prize money. In addition to his win in 2011, he also finished fifth in the 2007 Zurich Classic. He has played on two President’s Cup teams and three Ryder Cup teams.

Holmes last played the Zurich Classic in 2014, when he finished tied for 11^th. He finished third in The Open Championship and fourth in the Masters last year.  Currently ranked 31^st in the world, he played on the President’s Cup team in 2015 and two Ryder Cup teams.

Noh is playing well this season, with two eighth-place finishes in the Sanderson Farms Championship and the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.  He has won tournaments on the PGA TOUR, the Web.com Tour, European Tour and Asian PGA. He joined the Asian Tour in 2008 as a 16-year-old and earned Asian Tour Rookie of the Year honors.

Ben An nearly won his first PGA TOUR title at last year’s Zurich Classic when he made the three-person playoff but was eliminated on the first extra hole. He has won three times internationally and finished sixth in this year’s Waste Management Phoenix Open.

The latest commitments add to what is shaping up as the strongest field in years for the Zurich Classic, said Worthy. Already announced are the teams of Jason Day with Rickie Fowler and Justin Rose with Henrik Stenson in this year’s unique team format. Day was ranked number one in the world for 47 weeks and is currently second. Fowler is ranked 9^th  in the world following his victory at the Honda Classic this week, Rose is 12^th and Stenson is fourth.

“Based on what I have been told personally by players and their managers, right now it looks like the Zurich Classic could attract 12 of the top 20 players in the world,” said Worthy. “We hope Bubba Watson’s formal commitment will encourage many of his fellow TOUR players to finalize their commitments as well,” Worthy added.

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 Golf Ball Gala and several charitable golf tournaments. As a 501(c)(3) corporation, Fore!Kids has helped to raise more than $30 million to date for children’s charities in metro New Orleans and Baton Rouge. More information at 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 24-30, 2017 at TPC Louisiana in Westwego. Purse for 2016 totals $7.1 million, with the winner taking home $1,278,000.

Single-day grounds tickets are only $25 each, weekly passes are $75 and choices of suite and specialty venue options are available by calling the Tournament Office at 504-342-3000 or online at www.zurichgolfclassic.com.

PGA TOUR Policy Board approves new Foursome/Four-Ball format for 2017

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (November 14, 2016) – The PGA TOUR Policy Board has approved an exciting new two-man team format for the Zurich Classic of New Orleans which will feature two rounds each of Foursome and Four-Ball competition.

The change will be in effect for the 2017 tournament, which is scheduled for April 24-30 at TPC Louisiana in New Orleans. It has drawn widespread interest among TOUR members and already has resulted in a couple of high-profile commitments. Announcing their participation today were the teams of World No. 1 Jason Day with Rickie Fowler, and 2015 Zurich Classic of New Orleans champion Justin Rose with Henrik Stenson, the Olympic gold and silver medalists, respectively.

“I’ve loved being a part of team events throughout my amateur, collegiate and now professional career.  I’m so excited that the TOUR and Zurich are making this part of our schedule and can’t wait to tee it up with Jason in April,” said Fowler, the 10^th ranked golfer in the world.

“As a longtime ambassador, the Zurich Classic is already a special tournament for me,” said Rose, who beat Stenson by two strokes to become the 2016 Olympic Gold Medalist in Rio de Janeiro. “The addition of a team format adds a new, incredibly exciting element to the event. Henrik and I are very excited to tee it up together in April, and hopefully we can continue our longstanding chemistry and success in team formats.”

The new 72-hole stroke play format will feature Foursomes (alternate shot) during the first and third rounds and Four-Ball (best ball) during the second and fourth rounds. The starting field will consist of 80 teams (160 players). Each of the top available players from the PGA TOUR Priority Rankings who commits to the tournament will choose his partner, who in turn must have PGA TOUR status unless he is chosen as a tournament sponsor exemption.

Following the conclusion of the second round, there will be a cut to the low 35 teams and ties at the 35^th position. In case of a tie after 72 holes, there will be a sudden-death playoff using the Four-Ball format.

The Zurich Classic of New Orleans will continue to award FedExCup points and official money, and will count as an official victory for the members of the winning team. As such, both players will receive a two-year winner’s exemption and an eligibility into Invitational fields, including the Tournament of Champions and THE PLAYERS Championship. Additionally, the PGA of America will include both members of the winning team in the Tournament Winners category for the PGA Championship.

FedExCup points and prize money will be awarded to teams making the cut based on combining every two positions from the distribution table for a standard TOUR event, with each team member receiving an equal share. For instance, the winning team will evenly split first and second place FedExCup points (500 for first and 300 for second for 800 total points, or 400 for each player). Official prize money will be distributed in the same manner.

“We are thrilled to bring this new format to the Zurich Classic of New Orleans and to introduce an annual team event to the PGA TOUR,” said Andy Pazder, Chief of Operations for the PGA TOUR. “We have seen the growth of popularity with the biennial team competitions like the Presidents Cup, Ryder Cup and World Cup and the excitement that they produce. We believe the fans will love to see this sort of competition as a regular part of our season.”

“Zurich is excited to bring this new format to the PGA TOUR, and we look forward to the unique competition and comradery at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans this spring,” said Mike Foley, CEO for Zurich North America, which has sponsored the tournament since 2005.

“There is always excitement about team golf, and the feedback we’ve gotten from players has been extremely positive, and I know the fans are going to love it,” said Steve Worthy, CEO of the Fore!Kids Foundation, the host organization for the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. “The pairings opportunities are endless and will be very interesting.  We are looking forward to the future and continuing our charitable impact on the lives of children in our region.”

The Zurich Classic of New Orleans dates back to 1938, when it was introduced as the Greater New Orleans Open Invitational at City Park Golf Course. It eventually moved to Lakewood Country Club in 1963 and then English Turn Golf & Country Club in 1989. Its first year at the newly opened TPC Louisiana was 2005. Shortly thereafter the course sustained considerable damage from Hurricane Katrina, requiring a temporary return to English Turn in 2006. The Zurich Classic of New Orleans was the first major sporting event that made the commitment to return to New Orleans following Katrina.