Where is the Zurich Classic played? Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry lead sole PGA Tour team event
The Zurich Classic is a staple of the PGA Tour calendar and has established itself as a unique event as the lone two-man team event on the tour - with Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry leading
The Zurich Classic is underway as the PGA Tour season continues to unfold.
Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry are among four teams tied for the lead following the first round of the Zurich Classic at Avondale. On Thursday, the Irish pair opened with four straight birdies as they carded an 11-under 61 in Four-ball play.
The Zurich Classic is contested in New Orleans on a par-72 golf course that measures 7,425 yards. Tournament golf has been played in New Orleans since the 1930s, with the Greater New Orleans Invitational - as it was originally called - bouncing around various courses and clubs.
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The Classic then began also attracted corporate sponsors and the revenue generated elevated the tournament to new heights. First came First National Bank of Commerce (FNBC) followed by USF&G Insurance, and televised coverage made it a major event on the PGA TOUR.
In 1991, Freeport-McMoRan became the Classic’s third corporate sponsor as the tournament was held at English Turn Golf and Country Club - and the tournament continued to grow. Hewlett Packard became the Classic’s title sponsor until 2005 when Zurich Insurance secured title rights while the tournament was hosted at TPC Louisiana.
Zurich has since signed a number of extensions, with the latest - a seven-year extension - coming in 2018. Back in 2016, the PGA Tour announced the exciting two-man team format for the Zurich Classic, becoming the first team event on the tour since 1981 featuring two rounds each of foursome and four-ball competition.
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The format change was met with mass excitement and means it stands out on the PGA Tour calendar as the lone two-man team event. The 2024 edition of the tournament marks the 20th anniversary of Zurich’s title sponsorship.
Making his debut at the Zurich Classic, McIlroy and Ryder Cup teammate Lowry lead the way through one day of action. They are joined at the top of the leaderboard by the teams of Ryan Brehm and Mark Hubbard, Ben Kohles and Patton Kizzire, and Aaron Rai and David Lipsky.
McIlroy previously revealed he had approached Lowry about teaming up at this year’s Zurich Classic after previously turning down the chance to play alongside two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson. Speaking after the round, McIlroy spoke highly of New Orleans, saying: “We're staying downtown. We've ventured out a couple of times.
“Yeah, it's a cool city, great food scene. I thought the crowds out there today and the support that we got was amazing. Looking forward to more of that over the next three days.”
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