Zurich Classic of New Orleans: Team Golf Excitement at TPC Louisiana

The PGA TOUR heads to Avondale, Louisiana, this week for the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. TPC Louisiana, a 7,425-yard par 72 course with Poa Trivialis overseeded greens, will host the event.

This is the lone team event on the PGA TOUR schedule, featuring 80 two-man teams (160 players). A standard 36-hole cut will be applied, with only the top 33 teams and ties advancing to the weekend. The format is unique, with the first and third rounds in a Four-ball (Best Ball) format, and the second and fourth rounds in Foursomes (Alternate Shot).

The field is strong, with regulars Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele teaming up again, and world No. 2 Rory McIlroy playing alongside Shane Lowry.

Cantlay and Schauffele, the defending champions, have been a formidable duo, finishing no worse than 11th in three starts at TPC Louisiana. Schauffele’s dominant season, with seven top-10s in 10 starts, paired with Cantlay’s consistency, make them a top contender.

Another intriguing team is the pairing of Brendon Todd and Beau Hossler. Both players have been in excellent form, with Todd ranking 22nd in the field in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green over the past 24 rounds, and Hossler sitting third in the same metric. They missed the cut here last year but have taken their games to new heights in 2024.

The team of Byeong-Hun An and Mackenzie Hughes is also one to watch. They finished T10 at this event two years ago and are in solid form, with Hughes coming off a T4 in Punta Cana and An making five of his last six cuts with three top-26 finishes.

The Zurich Classic of New Orleans promises another exciting week of team golf on the PGA TOUR, with a mix of proven duos and rising pairings vying for the title.

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