It appears the 2017 Zurich Classic of New Orleans will become a Ryder Cup style two-man team event from 2017 and the first on the PGA Tour in 35-years.
According to Golf Channel reporter George Savaricas, the event will feature 80 teams of two. Both members of the winning team will receive the two-year Tour exemption that typically accompanies a victory in an official event, and each winning player will receive 400 FedEx Cup points. A regular tournament offers 500 points to the winner and 300 to the runner-up.
The report also says both winning New Orleans team members will earn spots in the Tournament of Champions and PGA Championship, but will not receive Masters invitations for the team win.
Justin Rose winner of the 2015 Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
The top 80 qualifiers will be allowed to choose their own teammate, with the caveat that their partner must have at least some PGA Tour status this season. If not, the selection will require the use of a sponsor invite.
The report suggests also the format will include a Ryder Cup style format of one round of foursomes (alternate shot) and one round of fourballs (best ball) before the 36-hole cut to the low 35 teams.
A PGA Tour official declined to comment on any proposed changes to the tournament’s format.
Should the changes be implemented, it will mark the overhaul of an event that sometimes struggles to draw an elite field and often battles inclement weather delays during its late spring slot on the schedule. This year it took until Monday to complete 54 holes at TPC Louisiana, where the truncated event was won by Brian Stuard in a playoff over Jamie Lovemark and Byeong-Hun An. Next year’s event will be held April 27-30.
The most recent official team event on Tour was the Walt Disney World National Team Championship, which featured a two-man format from 1974-81 before reverting back to individual stroke play in 1982.
- Thanks to Will Gray at The Golf Channel
