Rory has a roaring time as Zurich Classic soars

Only in New Orleans!
Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry partying and singing Journey “don’t stop believing’” with fans at @Zurich_Classic after wining the 2024 team event.
🔥🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/EAJkYOmOtf

— Fletcher Mackel (@FletcherWDSU) April 28, 2024

He is the face of the PGA Tour.

Yes, Tiger Woods remains the biggest name on the planet in golf, though his game is certainly nowhere near what it was when he simply dominated golf.

Yes, Scottie Scheffler is the best player in the world and is a tremendous person and asset to the PGA Tour. Scheffler has played in the Zurich Classic previously but did not this year with the grind of having won four of the five previous events on tour, while finishing second in the other. Additionally, Scheffler’s wife was due to deliver a child at any time.

Zurich Classic Tournament chairman Steve Worthy will continue to doggedly pursue Scheffler, as well as the other top players on the PGA Tour.

Who knows? Perhaps by next year, we would see some kind of alliance with the LIV tour to allow players to return to PGA events?

The Zurich Classic is unique with its team concept and the team concept may not have saved the event but certainly elevated the event in dramatic fashion.

Since going to the team concept, the tournament has attracted far better fields of top players and has been well received by PGA Tour members.

Most importantly, it has been well received, make that very well received by the fans.

Despite going up against the NFL Draft, Jazz Fest, the Pelicans playing a home playoff game and even prep baseball playoffs, the 2024 Zurich Classic attracted record crowds. Being at the event covering it and doing a broadcast on the course at the event, the enormity of the numbers were very noticeable, undeniable.

While the team concept elevated the field, the Zurich Classic remains simply a regular tour stop, without the elevated designation guaranteeing more money and a stellar field of the very best players annually.

Coming two weeks after The Masters and a week after the RBC Heritage makes it tough to convince the top players to make it three, if not more consecutive four-round grinds, along with the travel.

The dates are the dates and reality is reality.

The reality is that the Zurich Classic is a unique, special, outstanding experience.

The music on course, the incredible, unique food, open bars everywhere, bands and party-like atmosphere and the significant fan support earned the Zurich Classic hospitality voted the best product of its kind on the PGA Tour.

The weather was great for the tournament and so was the golf and the result. If you will excuse my French, the Laissez les bons temps rouler aspect was there for all to see and enjoy. The good times were there for everyone, regardless of what language they speak.

That was clearly the case with McIlroy.

While he largely carried Shane Lowry in the final round, McIlroy carried the day with enormous crowds following him throughout the event on course.

McIlroy played outstanding golf and McIlroy and Lowry had an outstanding time, winning the event in a playoff with Chad Ramey and Martin Trainor.

The good times were rolling as he and Lowry banked $1,286,050.

This came on the heels of the report that McIroy is receiving $50 million in equity from PGA Tour Enterprises for his loyalty to the tour in the face of the deep pockets and endless money LIV Golf is throwing at players regularly. It was a pretty good week for McIlroy financially. That may be the understatement of the day.

McIlroy has been the most outspoken member of the PGA Tour in its ongoing battle with LIV Golf.

He has softened his tone recently, understandably.

Like everyone, McIlroy understands that the game of golf is worse, make that much worse with the division in the game today and has hurt the game, the competition and overall fan support and interest.

On the course, McIlroy was magical with many of his creative, precise shots this past week.

Off the course, McIlroy enjoyed all that New Orleans has to offer.

At dinner at Arnaud’s, McIlroy received a standing ovation.

On the course, he received by far the largest galleries.

Audibly, he received chants that could be heard on adjoining holes of “Rory, Rory.”

Afterwards, he was all smiles and enjoyed the culture even more, courtesy of the Molly Ringwalds.

A universal song of encouragement was all he needed.

McIlroy took to the stage with Lowry, who was the perfect sidekick, allowing McIlroy to have the stage to himself.

The singing started, microphone in hand.

While the good times were rolling, the language was English, not French.

The Irish had the day.

McIlroy enjoyed himself so much with the good times rolling that he pledged to return next year to return his title.

While Worthy and media members cannot openly state loyalty to a player in wanting that player to win, it is clear that virtually all wanted to see McIlroy win for his place in the game, his presence on the course, his playing ability and the enormous draw that he is.

While his draws and fades worked beautifully at the TPC of Louisiana course, his draw to the community became a bond.

McIlroy will return.

Fans will return.

Worthy, who does a superb job, will work hard to get the big names who came and those who did not this year to return.

The return on investment for Zurich Insurance is looking good after 20 years of sponsoring the event with a renewal coming in the next two years. While not a done deal, it is safe to say that the renewal is a good bet. That provides insurance for a great event in our metropolitan area and our state.

Despite the split in golf worldwide, despite not having Scheffler or a few others you would like, despite not being an elevated event, despite facing enormous competition around the metro area, the 2024 Zurich Classic was a smashing success with the best player and best name possible emerging as a winner. The event was a winner and should continue to be that entity for years to come.

It has been quite a journey to see the event reach this place in time. In the words penned by Jonathan Cain and sung by Steve Perry, “Don’t Stop Believing, hold on to that feeling.”

Everyone except golfers left behind by McIlroy and Lowry left the TPC of Louisiana feeling good Sunday.