Apr19 Zurich classicpreview

One of the longest running events in PGA Tour history takes centre stage this week, as the Zurich Classic of New Orleans plays host to the best players in the world. The tournament returns to the Tournament Players Club of Louisiana this year. Last year the event was played at English Turn Golf & Country Club, the site of the tournament from 1989-2004. Extensive damage from Hurricane Katrina caused the TPC of Louisiana to be unplayable and forced the event to be moved back to English Turn. Only five players from the top-50 in the world rankings are in the field this week: 2001 champion and Louisiana native David Toms, Chris DiMarco, Joe Durant, Steve Stricker and Lucas Glover.

Last year, Chris Couch holed a par-saving chip from nearly 55 feet on the 72nd hole to win the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Couch closed with a seven-under 65 following a third-round 64 to end at 19-under-par 269. The win for Couch was his first on the PGA Tour and came one day before his 33rd birthday. Couch, who made the cut on the number at minus-four, became the fourth player in PGA Tour history to make the cut on the number, then go on to win the title. The last player to do it before Couch was Brad Faxon at the 2005 Buick Championship in Connecticut. Fred Funk nearly made a miraculous comeback in the final round. He fired a 10-under 62, one off the course record, to end in a tie for second place at 18-under-par 270 at English Turn Golf & Country Club. Charles Howell III, who played alongside Couch, had a chance to force a playoff, but his 45-foot birdie putt came up short and right of the hole. He shared second with Funk after a closing 65.

Last year, the final-round scoring average at English Turn was 68.479, the lowest single-round average of 2006. Fifty of the 71 players fired rounds in the 60s, led by Funk with a 62.

This week, Couch is attempting to join Byron Nelson, Bo Wininger, Tom Watson and Carlos Franco as the only players to win this event two straight years. Franco was the last player to accomplish the feat in 1999-2000. The tournament purse increased $100,000 from last year, with the winner receiving $1,098,000.

Fifteen players have made the Zurich Classic of New Orleans their first career win – Bill Collins (1959), Bo Wininger (1962), Larry Hinson (1969), Jim Simons (1977), Lon Hinkle (1978), Bob Eastwood (1984), Ian Woosnam (1991), Mike Standly (1993), Scott McCarron (1996), Lee Westwood (1998), Carlos Franco (1999), K.J. Choi (2002), Steve Flesch (2003), Tim Petrovic (2005) and Couch (2006).

There has never been a wire-to-wire winner at this event, however, Calvin Peete came the closest, sharing the lead after round one in 1986 before pulling away to a five-stroke win over Pat McGowan. Lee Trevino holds the tournament record for largest winning margin, defeating Ben Crenshaw and Bobby Cole by eight shots in 1974. When Trevino won this event in 1974, he played all 72 holes without a bogey. No player since then has been able to accomplish that feat.

David Toms, ranked 19th in the world, is competing in this event for the 15th time. When Toms won in 2001, he became the first native of Louisiana to win the New Orleans tournament.