Interview: Steve Worthy laments loss of 2020 Zurich Classic but confident in future of event

Interview: Steve Worthy on The Tailgaters

This weekend was supposed to mark the final two days of the Zurich Classic at the TPC of Louisiana in Avondale.

Of course, fate interceded via the COVID-19 virus. The annual event was canceled for 2020, marking the first year that there would be no PGA Tournament in the New Orleans area since 1957.

Ed Daniels and I have been fortunate to host The Tailgaters Show from the TPC course on Zurich Classic Saturdays, watching brilliant and errant shots over the last decade or so. We would have been there today. It was something we always look forward to and we look forward to returning next year.

For now, we were fortunate to visit with CEO and Tournament Director Steve Worthy of the Zurich Classic by phone this morning on our radio show on 106.1 FM NASH ICON. It was different for all three of us.

“It’s a strange time,” Worthy said. “I’ve been in the golf business a long time and I’ve never had an event canceled. We had four weeks or so of notice, knowing we were going to cancel but you get to actual tournament week and it is every day, ‘oh, we would have been doing this, the weather’s good, all the things that typically go on.’ It’s still a bit of an adjustment. I’ve watched more of the NFL Draft that I’ve ever gotten to do before.”

Worthy feels strongly that the switch to a doubles format in 2016 has enhanced the stature of the tournament and helped attract a better playing field.

“I was watching some of the telecasts over the last several years and they (media) were talking to players, things I’ve never gotten to watch because I’m running around during the event. They were so complimentary of the format, being able to do something with a friend, how much they enjoyed it. I think the players really do enjoy something different and playing with a partner. We continue to tie more closely to the Ryder Cup and the President’s Cup.”

Worthy lamented the cancellation with the stellar field he was anticipating.

“It is unfortunate, we were going to have a very good field,” Worthy said. “We canceled two days after media day and we had only announced one team but we still had so many good teams coming. Tony Finau and Cameron Champ, who would have been a very exciting team, they’re going to do an interview on The Golf Channel and talking about their partnership they would have had here. We had so many Ryder Cup partners that were going to be playing.”

Was there any discussion about postponing the event and playing on later dates in the fall, rather than canceling the tournament?

“There were three or four tournaments that ended up postponing and playing later in the summer,” Worthy said. “That was not something that was offered to us and I haven’t asked the PGA Tour why. My assumption was New Orleans was considered a hot spot and being hit harder by the virus than a lot of other places. I would never want, in New Orleans, in Louisiana, to be going opposite football. In the fall would have been tough for us, I think.”

How does Worthy envision the PGA Tour resuming this year and what impact may the coronavirus have on next year’s Zurich Classic?

“If the PGA Tour can get back out and start playing in June as scheduled, there’s going to be an incredible amount of testing that’s going to have to be done,” Worthy said. “I think that everyone seems to agree that all the players and caddies, the people on site, are going to have to be tested. Hopefully, we’re going to get this thing under control so that by the time we get to next April, it’s not going to be a big issue for us.”

Despite losing this year’s event, The Zurich Classic has as very bright future.

“I think it continues to grow every year,” Worthy said. “People understand the format better. They understand just the atmosphere at the golf course. If you want to see the best golfers in the world, we’ve got so many of them here but there’s so many other things to do. We continue to grow. We continue to increase our charitable numbers. I really like where we are right now.”

Worthy knows it will be a long road back, including with sponsors and patron support for the tournament.

“I don’t like where we are this second,” Worthy said. “I’d much rather be with you two being perched over the 9th green. Hopefully, it makes people understand that they miss us, that they were disappointed that they didn’t get to go this year. Hopefully, businesses and the economy as a whole will be able to bounce back so that a lot of the people who have participated will be able to continue to participate.”

While the challenges are legitimate, Worthy is comfortable about having an ace in the hole.

“We’re blessed to have Zurich,” Worthy said. “This would have been their 16th year. They love the city, they have a lot of connections in the city. We’re working on some things. I’m confident that our financials, through the generosity of Zurich, are going to come out in a positive way and hopefully, we will be able to have some positive news from a charitable standpoint in the very near future.”

Despite the genuine concerns, Worthy remains optimistic about the future of the Zurich Classic.

“I think we’re in good shape going forward and I think we’ll continue to grow,” Worthy said.