BLOG#135 Apr25-28,2024  Zurich Classic New Orleans 

BLOG#135 Apr25-28,2024  Zurich Classic New Orleans 

TPC Louisiana Avondale LA

Par 72 Purse 8.9M+300K 3%

HISTORY

This is the 7th year for this format.  Eighty teams competing this year from 82 last year won by Nick Hardy & Davis Riley-30.  Xander Schauffele & Patrick Cantlay won in 2022-29.  John Daly & David Duval missed the cut and finished last+14, not playing this year. 

FAVORITES 

1 Schauffele/Cantlay 5/1 Both playing pretty good golf. Finished#23 $47.5K

2 McIlroy/Lowry 8/1 Neither has played great this year but they may win. Finished #1 $3.6M  

3 Zalatoris/Theegala 11/1 Zalatoris disappointing at Heritage Finished Cut  $0 

4 Morikawa/Kitayama 16/1 Golf Channel them picked to win, I don’t. Finished  #23 $47.5K

LONGSHOTS 

6 Matt/Alex Fitzpatrick 25/1 Both playing well on PGA & DP Tours.     Finished#-11 $138.1

9 Herschel/Alexander 50/1 Herschel won at Corales,  Alexander 55th. Finished Cut-4 $0

11 Hardy/Riley 80/1 Last year first win for both, haven’t won since.     Finished#28 $30.3K

12 Schmid/Smally 100-/1 Golf Channel longshot pick.  Too Long!!! Finished Cut-6

80 Cole/Cochran 1000/1 Cochran a former PGA pro son caddies for Cole Finished Cut-6

ROUND1 #1 Brehm/Hubbard 130/1,Kohles/Kizzire, McIlroy/Lowry, Rai/Lipsky(50/1).

ROUND2 #1 Brahm/Hubbard, McIlroy/Lowry birdied last 2 holes 70.  CUT is-8.

ROUND 3 #1 Blair/Fishburn-23 10 birdies 1 eagle but pared last 3 holes for 60.

#3 McIlroy/Lowry-21 64 Rory chips to 1’ of hole from bunker for birdie to tie for 3rd. 

FINAL ROUND McIlroy/Lowry defeat Ramey/Trainer who shot low RD 63 and came back from 7 down.  McIlroy for the 3rd time in 2 days hit an excellent pitch on 18 to give Lowry a chance for his 3rd birdie on this hole.  He missed a long putt but Trainer missed a 6’ putt for bogie. 

LIV AT GRANGE GC Adelaide, Australia 

Par 72 Purse $25M LY Attendance 84,000 fans.

Melbourne is 14 hours ahead of us so live TV coverage difficult.

RD1 Friday 4/26 No live TV for this round. #1D. Lee #10 P. Reed & J. Rahm #29 B. Kopek. 

RD2 Saturday 4/27 I watched the Zurich and some of the LIV replay on 2 TV’s Saturday afternoon so I  could compare.  LIV with constant music and references to team standings was very distracting.  However except for Rory and Lowry the Zurich was not much better.

#1 Brendan Steele-14 #5 P. Reed-10 #15 B. Kopek & J. Rahm.

Final RD 4/28 Winner Brendan Steel-18 #3 Jon Rahm-16 #9 Koepka-14 #26 DeChambeau-70.

OTHER INTERESTING TOURNAMENT INFORMATION

A poor weekend for Professional golf saved by the win of McIlroy & Lowry at the Zurich.  

While the play of Blair/Fishburn or Ramy/Trainer is a nice story, does anyone want to spend their Sunday afternoon watching them or Brendan Steel if you are watching the LIV replay.  

The LIV top guys did not show up.  Zurich not much better but Rory & Lowry made it interesting for fans.  Like all major sports today, overexposure is an issue.  Magnified in golf due to the friction between LIV and the PGA.  While I attempt to give full coverage to PGA tournaments each week, there is no question that tournaments like the Zurich with its limited field, last weeks opposit-field Coralas and April 2nd Huston Open generate very little interest.