NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) – The PGA Tour announced Monday morning that they will officially change the format of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans starting in 2017.
The tournament, played at the TPC of Louisiana in Avondale, will switch from being an individual “stroke play” event to a new two-man team format.
The new format will feature 80 two-man teams comprised of the available, top ranked PGA Tour payer and the partner of his choosing.
These two-man teams will play in a 72 hole event that will feature foursomes (alternate shot) on the first and third days of the tournament and four-ball (best ball) during the second and fourth rounds.
Following the the conclusion of the second round, the field will be cut to the low 35 teams and ties, and there will be a sudden death playoff using the four-ball format if there is a tie at the end of regulation play.
Each player on the winning team will be awarded official Fed-Ex Cup points, prize money, as well as being recognized as an official tournament winner on the PGA tour.
Both players on the winning team will also get a two year exemption for The Players Championship, The PGA Championship and various other invitational tournaments.
The new format is already attracting some of the biggest names in golf such as Former Zurich Classic Champion and current Olympic Champion Justin Rose and his teammate, major championship winner and Olympic Silver Medalist, Henrick Stenson, as well as the World’s #1 ranked player Jason Day and his partner, Rickie Fowler, who was recently a member of the winning U.S. Ryder Cup Team.
The Tournament will be played April 24th -30th of 2017.