Former U.S. Open champ Gary Woodland becomes last-minute entry to Zurich Classic

Woodland is a four-time winner on PGA Tour and Hodges won the 3M Open last year

NEW ORLEANS — Former U.S. Open champion Gary Woodland made a late entry to the Zurich Classic teamed with Lee Hodges, announced Steve Worthy, CEO of the Fore!Kids Foundation, producer of the tournament.

“We are always happy to add major champions, and we are thrilled to get Gary

back to New Orleans,” said Worthy. “ Lee won his first event wire to wire last year, and they will make a formidable team to follow,” he added.

Woodland won the 2019 U..S. Open with a three-stroke victory over Brooks Koepka. That season he scored eight top 10s to go with his U.S. Open title, including two runner-up finishes in the CJ Cup and the Sentry Tournament of Champions.

Last season he tied for ninth in both the Cadence Bank Houston Open and the Genesis Invitational.

Hodges won his first PGA Tour title at the 3M Open last year, the most successful in his career on the PGA Tour. He also posted two top-10 and ten top-25 finishes last season.

The Zurich Classic has attracted one of its strongest fields this year, with four players ranked in the top eight in the world—Rory McIlroy (2), Xander Schauffele (3), Wyndham Clark (5) and Patrick Cantlay (8). In addition, Matt Fitzgerald (12), Collin Morikawa (13)  and Sahith Theegala (17) are also entered, giving the tournament seven of the top 17 player in the world.

The Zurich Classic field also includes four U.S. Open champions—Wyndham Clark (2023), Matt Fitzpatrick (2022), Woodland (2019) and McIlroy (2011).

About Fore!Kids Foundation:

Since 1958, the Fore!Kids Foundation has raised money to fund children’s service organizations through golf events like the Zurich Classic of New Orleans and several charitable golf tournaments.

In 2023, the Fore!Kids Foundation generated a record $2.843 million in charitable giving for children’s charities in the New Orleans and Baton Rouge metro areas. Charitable contributions have been rising in recent years:

• Over $2.843 million to charities in 2023, a new record
• Over $20 million to charities in last 10 years
• Over $30 million to charities in the last 20 years since Zurich became title sponsor
• Over $48 million to charities since inception of the Fore!Kids Foundation and its predecessors

More information at http://www.forekidsfoundation.com.

About the Zurich Classic of New Orleans:

Zurich Insurance has sponsored the Zurich Classic of New Orleans for 20 years, one of the longest title sponsor relationships on the PGA Tour. The Zurich Classic is the only team tournament on the PGA TOUR season. Since launching the team format in 2017, the Zurich Classic of New Orleans has drawn some of the highest-ranking fields for any regular-season tournament on the PGA TOUR.

The Zurich Classic has over a $40 million estimated annual economic impact to the regional economy. Since Zurich became title sponsor in 2005, the tournament has generated more than $645 million in estimated economic activity for the New Orleans community.

With 42 hours of total television coverage on Golf Channel and CBS, a total of 13 million viewers tuned in to watch the tournament.

Internationally, PGA TOUR coverage of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans is available across 148 countries and territories via local broadcast partners, and garners $33 million in positive national and international media exposure for both the city and state throughout the year beyond the days of professional competition.

The tournament will be played April 24-28, 2024, at TPC Louisiana in Avondale. Purse for 2024 totals a record $8.9 million, with each member of the winning team earning $1,286,050 and 400 FedExCup points.

All tickets to the 2024 Zurich Classic will be mobile entry only. Day-specific grounds tickets are only $40.  In addition, the Best of the Zurich Class Pass offers a variety of dishes from some of New Orleans most famous restaurants at three locations across the TPC course starting at $175 per day, and the Walk-On’s Stadium Club will offer close-up viewing at the 17^th hole in the only two-story, air-conditioned tent on the course. Additional ticket options are available by calling the Tournament Office at 504-342-3000 or online at www.zurichgolfclassic.com