2021 Zurich Classic of New Orleans: Top 10 teams at TPC Louisiana

The traditional stroke play format rules supreme for more than 90% of the PGA Tour schedule. The other ~10% of the schedule is on display this week.

The Zurich Classic of New Orleans, once a stroke play event for decades since it debuted in 1938, is in its fourth edition as a two-man team stroke play event.

The switch ocurred in 2017. Last year’s event was canceled due to the pandemic.

Eighty teams are on hand this week. They were formed by eighty players receiving exemption into the field via their priority ranking on the PGA Tour. Those 80 players can choose a partner from that pool, any other PGA Tour member, or any other player via sponsor exemption.

The first round is best ball and second is alternate shot. A cut to top 35 teams and ties is made for the weekend, where best ball is in play for the third round and alternate shot for the fourth.

The venue is TPC Louisiana in Avondale, Louisiana, located about 15 miles southwest of New Orleans. It’s another Pete Dye design like Harbour Town last week at the RBC Heritage.

The course opened in 2004. It measures 7,425 yards for a par 72.

TPC Louisiana closed for six months after the 2019 Zurich Classic for a $5 million renovation. The fairways and rough converted from TifSport Bermuda to Celebration Bermuda. The greens changed from Mini Verde Bermuda to TifEagle Bermuda.

Players have complained in the past about poor turf conditions, particularly on and around the greens. We’ll see if this helps.

A decent quality field is on hand for this event, which boasts a $7.3 million purse. The tournament also grants the same two-year winner’s exemption to both team members as an individual winner would receive on the PGA Tour.

Fairways are about average size. Rough is minimal, but sand, water and run-offs around the green provide some challenge. Green sizes are smaller than average but slower and softer than average.

There are some long par-3s and par-4s, so long iron play can be a separator.

The winds are expected to blow up to about 15 miles per hour this week. Temperatures are supposed to be in the 60s-70s with little to no rain/storms in the forecast.

With some time to kill until the next major next month, it’s a nice change of pace to get an event like this. Let’s dig into the 10 duos who could walk away from the Big Easy with a big payday.