Defending champs looking forward to Zurich Classic

AVONDALE, La. – It was a gamble, one worth taking.

When the PGA and the Zurich Classic opted to take a leap of faith to make the New Orleans area PGA Tour stop a team event in 2017, many wondered aloud if it was a signal that the tournament was in trouble.

Given the way top players were passing on the event because of the dates, some said the course and because of other big events before and after the stop at the TPC of Louisiana, something had to be done.

A year removed from the grand experiment, it is clear that the gamble paid off.

The 2017 event was a smashing success and it has Zurich and those with the ForeKids Foundation downright giddy about the future of the tournament, which clearly has a new life and genuine interest from the players on tour who previously may have looked past New Orleans, despite its obvious attraction and charm.

Steve Worthy, CEO of the Fore!Kids Foundation which produces the tournament, could not contain his enthusiasm at a press conference for the 2018 event Tuesday.

“I think there’s genuine excitement,” Worthy said. “They really love the format. I’ve really heard nothing negative. It’s very gratifying to get that kind of feedback from our players.”

Worthy praised the field that participated in the inaugural team event a year ago.

“Since the World Golf Rankings started, this was the best, strongest field we’ve ever had,” Worthy said. “We had seven of the top 10 players in the world, obviously, we were very happy about that.”

Worthy provided another interesting statistic about the substance of the 2017 field assembled in Avondale.

“After the Zurich Classic, the next 18 tournaments in a row, the winners of each one of those tournaments participated in the Zurich Classic,” Worthy said.

The format will remain the same for this year’s team event with a little tweak.

Last year, the tournament featured a best ball format on Friday and Sunday and the alternate shot format was used on Thursday and Saturday. This year, it will be best ball on Thursday and Saturday and alternate shot on Friday and Sunday, allowing play to move faster on Sunday, in the event there is a weather issue, as was the case a year ago on Sunday.

Last year, the tournament produced record crowds on Thursday, Friday and Saturday before the weather issue intervened on Sunday, according to Worthy.

The 2018 field will be as good, if not better than last year’s field, according to Worthy. He expects to make a host of announcements about players committing starting next week.

Cameron Smith and Jonas Blixt, who won the 2017 Zurich Classic in a playoff with Kevin Kisner and Scott Brown, will return to defend their title in the team event at the TPC of Louisiana at Avondale.

Smith is playing well on tour this year while Blixt is battling a back injury.

“I have committed myself to 100 percent on every shot,” Smith said. “I’m really sticking to that.”

Smith and Blixt played bogey-free golf here a year ago en route to victory.

“I just saw a doctor today and it looks pretty good,” Blixt said. “He told me to take another week off just to make sure that everything’s fine.”

The field will be as good, if not better than last year’s field, according to Steve Worthy of the ForeKids Foundation. Two impressive teams were confirmed for the tournament field Tuesday.

Leading the way will be defending Masters champion Sergio Garcia, who will team with Rafael Cabrera Bello. Garcia is currently 11th in the world rankings while Cabrera Bello is 21st.

Another marquee pairing that will make it to Avondale is 2011 Zurich Classic champion Bubba Watson and Matt Kuchar, who last played here in 2009. Watson is a two-time Masters winner and he won the Genesis Open just a couple of weeks ago. Kuchar is ranked 20th in the world.

To a man, everyone from players to tournament officials say the team format was a smashing success a year ago.

“All of the things I’ve heard is that they enjoyed the event, even the guys who didn’t play so well,” Smith said. “They had a great time trying something different.”

Blixt concurs.

“I heard the same kind of feedback,” Blixt said. “Everybody’s been really positive and it’s a really fun, relaxed week, just go out there and have fun with your buddy and it’s been great. I haven’t heard anything bad about it.”

Both players like the layout at the TPC of Louisiana.

“I like how straight you have to hit it,” Smith said. “I don’t think you have to hit it that long around there. Obviously, it’s always kind of wet there, wet and windy, so you have to really control your ball in the wind and hit really good shots. It’s one of those courses where you really have to have everything in the bag that week. Otherwise, you’re not really going to play that well.”

Blixt has always liked the course.

“It’s a good mix between some good birdie holes and some schematic shots where you really have to step up and hit. It’s a really fun golf course to play. Even before the format we have now, I really enjoyed going there to play the golf course.”

Both Blixt and Smith also love coming to New Orleans for the food, citing the charbroiled oysters and plentiful seafood here. Blixt was even able to hit Jazz Fest a few years back on Sunday, seeing Bruce Springsteen after completing his final round.

The New Orleans stop on tour has always been a lure with its food, music, entertainment and an excellent prize fund. Now, there is a format to match.