PGA Tour Brunch | Zurich Classic R-1

@PGATourBrunch Previews First Round at the Zurich Classic

Apr 21

Zurich Classic | Tournament Preview

NEW ORLEANS - Since 1970, the Zurich Classic has had 19 players capture their first PGA Tour title at the event, the second-most first-time Tour winners of any active event in that span with the most being 23 at the John Deere Classic. The most recent first time Tour winner at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans was Cameron Smith in 2017 with teammate Jonas Blixt.

Since the event moved to a team format in 2017, 2019 Zurich Classic of New Orleans winner Ryan Palmer has teamed up with Jordan Spieth (2017, 2018), Jon Rahm (2019, 2021) and in 2022, Palmer will play with fellow Texan and world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler for the first time. Palmer’s finishes in the event include: 2017/4th (Jordan Spieth), 2018/MC (Spieth), 2019/ and 7th with (Jon Rahm), in 2021.

FedExCup leader and world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is attempting to win for the fifth time in seven starts. Scheffler earned his first major championship title at the Masters Tournament in his most recent start, becoming the first player since Jason Day in 2015 to win four times in six starts.

Scheffler joined Tiger Woods (eight times) as players to win four times in a PGA Tour season, including a major and a World Golf Championships event. With his third Tour victory at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play, Scheffler took over the No. 1 position in the Official World Golf Ranking on March 27 for the first time in his career. Scheffler is the 25th player to hold the World No. 1 title (est. 1986) and sixth-youngest.

Scheffler also holds the lead in the FedEx Cup standings, becoming the first FedEx Cup leader to win on TOUR (outside of the Tour Championship) since Justin Thomas at the 2020 WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational.

Zurich Classic | Tournament Facts

COURSE: TPC Louisiana, Avondale, LA

ARCHITECT: Pete Dye

YARDS/PAR: 7,425 yards/Par 72

PRIZE Money/First Place Winnings: $8,300,000

DEFENDING CHAMPIONS: Marc Leishman and Cameron Smith

PAST RESULTS: (link)

PAST CHAMPIONS: (link)

FEDEx CUP Points to Winners: 400 to each player

SOCIAL MEDIA: #PGATour #FedExCup @Zurich_Classic

TV COVERAGE: The first two rounds (today and April 22) are scheduled for coverage from 3:30pm to 6:30pm (ET) on Golf Channel. On Saturday and Sunday, coverage is set for 1:00pm to 3:00pm (ET) on Golf Channel and 3:00 to 6:00pm (ET) on CBS.

PGA TOUR LIVE STREAMING on ESPN+: Streaming coverage will be featured on ESPN-Plus today with Main Feed, Featured Hole and Featured Groups from 8:00am to 7:00pm (ET). Friday streaming coverage runs from 9:15am to 6:30pm (ET). Weekend times include Saturday streaming from 8:45am to 6:00pm (ET) while Sunday’s final round streams 10:30am to 6:00pm (ET) or to completion.

PGA TOUR RADIO COVERAGE: SiriusXM Radio will have live radio coverage of The Zurich Classic with today’s and Friday’s broadcasts from 1:00pm to 6:30pm (ET). Saturday and Sunday coverage on Sirius XM Radio runs from 1:00 to 6:00pm (ET) or completion of event. PGA Tour Radio is available on Sirius 208/XM 92 or online via PGATourCom.

NOLA: Remember local time is Central time, one hour behind Eastern Daylight time.

How to Watch: In case of changes, visit: (PGATourCom)

Zurich Classic | The Basics:

How the Team Format Works (PGATourCom)

Zurich Classic Tee Times start today at 8:00am (ET) and go to 3:20pm (ET).

Weather: Today’s forecast calls for mostly sunny skies and 74-degree weather. Winds blowing at 14 mph and 64% humidity but only a 10% chance of rain.

Zurich Classic Tournament Web Site: (link)

FedEx Cup Standings: (link)

PGA Tour Brunch will post before 8:00AM (ET) on Friday.

Next Week: Mexico Open at Vidanta

Zurich Classic | Field and Tee Times:

The Field: (link)

Tee Times: (link)

What They’re Saying:

Big Challenge Facing Favorites Morikawa/Hovland? Music! (Golf Week/USA Today)

Leishman/Cam Smith Look for Back-to-Back (Golf Week/USA Today)

FedExCup Standings (PGATourCom)

How to Watch Zurich classic (Golf.Com)

Industry, Sports Gambling and Daily Fantasy News:

Pebble Beach Became Third USGA Anchor Site (ESPN/Associated Press)

Garrigus Requests Release from PGA to Play in Saudi Golf League (CBS Sports)

Expert Picks for Zurich - (PGATourCom)

Sleeper Picks for Zurich Classic - (PGATourCom)

Notah Begay Gearing Up for Champions Tour (PGATourCom)

Chmura Joins LPGA as Chief Marketing/Brand Officer (Golf Week/USA Today)

PGA TOUR @PGATOUR

.@GolfBet breaks down the favorites and longshots for the @Zurich_Classic 👇

On This Day in Golf History:

April 21, 1995 - Loren Roberts, whose smooth putting stroke earned him the nickname, “Boss of the Moss,” won the MCI Heritage Classic, needing only 24 putts over the final 18 holes. Roberts followed a R-3 (63) with a final round (67) to defeat Mark O’Meara. - Courtesy of Randy Walker, Author of On This Day in Golf History, available via Amazon.com and by clicking HERE

Parting Putt: