Game format, cut, play-off, number of points, exemptions in case of victory. The Zurich Classic in New Orleans is the only team event on the PGA Tour, so the rules are not necessarily the same.
The Zurich Classic, which previously was played individually, has since 2017 been a team tournament of two and combines the scores in 4 Balls and Foursomes over 4 rounds. The 1st and 3rd round in 4 Balls, the 2nd and 4th round in Foursomes.
The field consists of 80 teams or 160 players. The player with the highest ranking according to his category of play on the PGA Tour can line up with the player of his choice, provided that the latter is a member of the PGA Tour.
This is the case of Paul Barjon who plays with the winner of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro Am Tom Hoge. the two players had shared the last part of the American Express during the 4th round in La Quinta at the end of January and will start on Thursday in the first part from 1 to 7 a.m. local time (2 p.m. in France).
Cut and sudden death
At the end of the first two rounds, only the first 33 teams and tied are retained for the last two rounds.
In the event of a tie between several teams in the lead, the decision is made in sudden death alternately in Foursomes on the 1st round then in 4 Balls on the following one. And so on until one team wins.
Exemptions and major!
The victory grants both players a 2-year exemption on the PGA Tour as a regular tournament on the American Tour. The two players are also invited to play the “invitational” tournaments, the Champions tournament at the start of the year and The Players at Ponte Vedra Beach. Even more interestingly both players are automatically placed among the tournament winners on the bye list for the 2nd major of the season next month in Tulsa, the PGA Championship.
Regarding the FedEx points registered, the PGA Tour considers that the two players share the points of the 1st and 2nd. That is 500 and 300 FedEx points, so their total is credited with 400 points each. So on for the next in the ranking.
A little history
The Zurich Classic, played since 2005 (except 2006 due to Hurricane Katrina) at TPC Louisiana, is the first team tournament on the PGA Tour since 1981.
It was in 2018 that the famous “Walk-up songs” were introduced. Indeed on Saturday and Sunday the players are welcomed to the sound of the music of their choice on the tee of 1. A bit like in a football stadium when the anthem of the local team is played at the entrance of the players in the field.
Last year future winners Cam Smith and Marc Leishman chose the Mullet Song in reference to Cam Smith’s famous haircut. When they arrived on the tee of 1, his Australian teammate showed up with a tribute wig.
Walk-up music: « The Mullet Song » ????pic.twitter.com/pqoz7gPVue
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) April 24, 2021
Here is the original version:
Dream Duos
This year the star pair composed of world number 2 and number 5 Collin Morikawa and Viktor Hovland will be eagerly awaited. We will also keep an eye on the Cantlay/Schauffele duo.
Other teams getting attention: Sergio Garcia / Tommy Fleetwood, Scottie Scheffler / RyanPalmer, Danny Willett / Tyrrell Hatton, Shane Lowry / Ian Poulter, Henrik Stenson / Justin Rose, Billy Horschel / Sam Burns, Bubba Watson / Harold Varner III . Without forgetting the Haas father and son doublet, Jay 68 years old and Bill (39 years old).
