THE FACTS
When is the 2019 Zurich Classic of New Orleans? Thursday 25th to Sunday 28th of April 2019
Where is the 2019 Zurich Classic of New Orleans? TPC Louisiana, Avondale, Louisiana, USA
What is the total prize fund of the 2019 Zurich Classic of New Orleans? $7,300,000
What television channel can I watch the 2019 Zurich Classic of New Orleans on in the UK? Sky Sports Golf
Where can I stream the 2019 Zurich Classic of New Orleans in the UK? Sky Sports subscribers can stream the tournament online via Sky Go
Where can I get tickets for the 2019 Zurich Classic of New Orleans? https://www.pgatour.com/tourna...
What is the course yardage at TPC Louisiana? 7,425 yards
What is the par at TPC Louisiana? 72
What is the course information for TPC Louisiana? The Pete Dye design was formed with help from two player consultants, Steve Elkington and New Orleans native Kelly Gibson. The course represents the environment’s natural habitat, running along the Mississippi River and incorporating the natural cypress and oak trees, with water coming into play on many of the holes. However, TPC Louisiana is ranked among the PGA Tours’s top third to go low even before the team format was introduced, showing the need for birdies this week.
What is the predicted weather for the Zurich Classic of New Orleans? Play on the opening day is likely to be disrupted due to expected thunderstorms, however the remaining three days will be mostly sunny and warm with temperatures all week around 22c.
THE HISTORY
In 2017, the Zurich Classic changed its typical format of 72-hole stroke-play to a team event, with 80 pairs making up the field. The PGA Tour wanted to introduce a team format into the regular schedule to provide a different excitement that is seen in team golf such as the Ryder Cup and World Cup. Round 1 and 3 are Four-Ball (Best-Ball) and Rounds 2 and 4 are Foursomes (Alternate Shot).
Even before the team format was introduced, winning scores around TPC Louisiana were always low with an average winning total of 18 under par since 2009. Remarkably, Justin Rose in 2015 matched the same winning total of last year's winners, giving an indication of the birdie opportunities available this week. Notably, the tournament has produced many a close finish with the average winning margin being 0.8 strokes over the last ten editions, making the Par 5 finishing hole ideal for a dramatic finish.
With the team format still in its infancy, favourites based on past form is more difficult to predict. Nevertheless, players with good form around TPC Louisiana, either in the individual or team format, were assessed alongside SG: tee-to-green - a key statistic that will be required, especially in the foursomes format - as well as birdie average, an important statistic that will be vital in the betterball format.
