Jon Rahm and Ryan Palmer to team up again in defense of Zurich Classic title

JON RAHM AND RYAN PALMER WILL DEFEND THEIR 2019 TITLE TWO YEARS LATER AT THE 2021 ZURICH CLASSIC OF NEW ORLEANS

NEW ORLEANS — Jon Rahm, currently the third-ranked player in the world, will team again with Ryan Palmer to defend the title they won in 2019 at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, announced Steve Worthy, CEO of the Fore!Kids Foundation, producer of the tournament.

“Jon and Ryan paired up to win our 2019 tournament by three shots, the biggest margin of victory since we launched the team format in 2017,” said Worthy. “Since then, Jon has moved up to third in the world, and Ryan has finished well here before, so I expect them to make a formidable pair again this year,” Worthy added.

Rahm turned professional in 2016 out of Arizona State and won his first PGA TOUR title at the 2017 Farmers Insurance Open. He has won again each year since, including twice in 2020, at the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide and the BMW Championship in the FedExCup playoffs. He also earned six other top 10 finishes in the truncated 2020 season.

So far this season, he has six top-seven finishes, including a tie for fifth at the Genesis Invitational and a tie for ninth at The Players Championship.

In his first full season on the PGA TOUR, he recorded 11 top-10 finishes, including a victory at the Farmers Open, and he won the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year award on the European Tour after claiming two wins on that circuit. He has won a total of six international victories to go with his five PGA Tour wins.

In 2019, he tied for third in the U.S. Open and tied for seventh in last fall’s Masters.

Rahm was a member of the victorious 2018 European Ryder Cup team, and on the final day he beat Tiger Woods in their singles match, 2 and 1.

Competing for Arizona State, he became the first player to twice win the Ben Hogan Award, given to the best collegiate golfer. He also won the Jack Nicklaus Award, given to the top Division I collegiate golfer and played on the 2014 World Cup team and the 2015 Palmer Cup squad. He was the number one ranked amateur player for a record 60 weeks and was the low amateur at the 2016 U.S. Open.

During his collegiate career, he recorded 11 victories, second only to former Sun Devil Phil Mickelson. He won the 2016 individual Pac-12 title and was a three-time All-American. He also won the 2015 Mark McCormack Medal and the 2014 World Amateur Championship, breaking a record held by Jack Nicklaus. Overseas in his native Spain, he won the Spanish Amateur Championship back-to-back in 2014-15.

Ryan Palmer has won four times on the PGA TOUR, including his victory with Rahm at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. He is currently ranked 26th in the world.

His victory at the 2019 Zurich Classic capped one of his most successful years on the PGA Tour. He scored six top ten finishes, including a tie for third in the CJ Cup @ Nine Bridges tournament, when he recorded seven consecutive birdies to close out one of his rounds. He also tied for fourth in the Honda Classic and tied for sixth in the Charles Schwab Challenge.

In the shortened 2020 season, he finished second to his Zurich partner Rahm in the Memorial Tournament, when they were paired in the final round. He also tied for fourth in the Sony Open and tied for eighth in the Northern Trust in that season. He qualified for the FedExCup playoffs for the 12th time in his career and advanced to the Tour Championship for the third time.

He has played well this season too, with a tie for second at the Farmers Insurance Open, a fourth in the Sentry Tournament of Champions and a tie for fourth in the Zozo Championship at Sherwood.

Palmer also tied for fourth in the 2012 Zurich Classic. He took tenth in the 2011 Masters and tied for fifth in the 2014 PGA Championship.

He missed the fall portion of the 2016-17 season while his wife, Jennifer, underwent chemotherapy to treat Stage 2 breast cancer that was diagnosed in the summer of 2016. Upon his return to the PGA TOUR in 2018, he almost won the Farmers Insurance Open, losing in a playoff eventually won by Jason Day.

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.

Zurich Classic of New Orleans Quick Facts

• Dates: April 19-25, 2021

• Defending champions Jon Rahm and Ryan Palmer will defend their title in the 2021 Zurich Classic. Rahm is ranked third in the world.

• Another notable team is Colin Morikawa, ranked fourth in the world, playing with Matthew Wolff, ranked 21stin the world. Morikawa is only the second player to win a major and a WGC title before turning 25. The other player to accomplish that feat was Tiger Woods. Wolff won his first PGA Tour title in only his fourth start.

• This year’s 72-hole stroke play format will feature Four-Ball (best ball) during the first and third rounds and Foursomes (alternate shot) during the second and fourth rounds. The starting field will consist of a field of 80 teams. Following the conclusion of the second round, the field will be cut to the low 35 teams and ties at the 35thposition. In case of a tie after 72 holes, there will be a sudden-death playoff using the Four-Ball format.

• Television coverage: Golf Channel 2:00-5:00 p.m. Thursday and Friday, April 22 and 23; CBS 2:00 -5:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, April 24 and 25.

· Despite the cancellation of the 2020 tournament, Zurich Insurance donated funds to the Fore!Kids Foundation to make $1.6 million in contributions to area non-profits, the same amount as the year before.

• Purse for 2021 totals $7.4 million, with each member of the winning team earning $1,069,300.

• Day-specific grounds tickets are only $35. In addition, the Best of the Zurich Class Pass offers a variety of dishes from some of New Orleans most famous restaurants at four locations across the TPC course. Additional ticket options are available by calling the Tournament Office at 504-342-3000 or online at www.zurichgolfclassic.com.

• Fans under age of 17 admitted free with ticketed adult.

· Televised in more than 224 countries and territories, the Zurich Classic of New Orleans generates a significant economic impact on the city of New Orleans and the entire state of Louisiana. Independent research has shown that the tournament generates spending of more than $40 million within the local economy and garners $33 million in positive national and international media exposure for both the city and state throughout the year beyond the four days of competition.

• Since its inception in 1958, the Fore!Kids Foundation has raised more than $40 million to fund children’s service organizations through golf events like the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, the Taste of the Tournament Gala and several charitable golf tournaments.

• The Fore!Kids Foundation serves children in 62 of the 64 parishes (counties) in Louisiana.

• The Zurich Classic of New Orleans enjoys the benefit of an extremely strong title sponsor in Zurich Insurance, which has committed through 2026.

2021 Zurich Classic of New Orleans Tournament Schedule of Events

Monday, April 19
Zurich Classic of New Orleans Monday Pro-Am
Course is closed to the public

Tuesday, April 20
Professional Practice Rounds
Course is closed to the public

Wednesday, April 21
Zurich Classic of New Orleans Wednesday Pro-Am
7:00AM-9:00AM and 12:00PM-2:00PM
#1 and #10 Tee Starts

Thursday, April 22 (approximately)
First Round, 7:00AM
Golf Channel Coverage, 2:30PM-5:30PM

Friday, April 23 (approximately)
Second Round, 8:00AM
Golf Channel Coverage, 2:30PM-5:30PM

Saturday, April 24
Third Round, 8:00AM (approximately)
Golf Channel Coverage, 12:00-2:00PM
CBS Network Coverage, 2:00PM-5:00PM

Sunday, April 25
Championship Round, 9:00AM (approximately)
Golf Channel Coverage, 12:00-2:00PM
CBS Network Coverage, 2:00PM-5:00PM

All events are played at TPC Louisiana unless otherwise noted.
Tee start times & broadcast times are subject to change

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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, The Holiday Auction Fore!Kids and several charitable golf tournaments. As a 501(c)(3) corporation, Fore!Kids has helped to raise more than $40 million to date for children’s charities in metro New Orleans and Baton Rouge. More information at http://www.forekidsfoundation.com.

Despite the cancellation of the 2020 tournament, Zurich Insurance donated funds to the Fore!Kids Foundation to make $1.5 million in contributions to area non-profits, the same amount as the year before.

About the Zurich Classic of New Orleans:

Televised in more than 224 countries and territories, the Zurich Classic of New Orleans generates a significant economic impact on the city of New Orleans and the entire state of Louisiana. Independent research has shown that the tournament generates spending of more than $40 million within the local economy and garners $33 million in positive national and international media exposure for both the city and state throughout the year beyond the four days of competition.

The tournament will be played April 19-25, 2021 at TPC Louisiana in Avondale. Purse for 2021 totals $7.4 million, with each member of the winning team earning $1,069,300.
Day-specific grounds tickets are only $35. In addition, the Best of the Zurich Class Pass offers a variety of dishes from some of New Orleans most famous restaurants at four locations across the TPC course. Additional ticket options are available by calling the Tournament Office at 504-342-3000 or online at www.zurichgolfclassic.com.