Zurich Classic – the strange stage of the PGA Tour

The tournament was initiated in 1938, but only 20 years later it entered the annual status. And after 79 years of individual stroke play, Zurich Classic has started a four-round team stroke format since 2017. TPC Louisiana Stadium, par72 in the state of the same name has been hosted since 2007.

Zurich Classic over the past four years has gathered 80 teams, each with two members, competing fourball in the first round and penultimate, foursome for the remaining two legs.

In a fourball team stroke play, each player bounces separately and takes only the member’s best hole score to aggregate round performance.

As for foursome teammate club fighting, the two members share the same ball. If one player plays on the odd numbered hole, the other player plays on the even numbered hole. They take turns to hit the ball until the ball enters the hole, thereby deciding the final round.

Yesterday, the Swiss-born team Viktor Hovland – Kris Ventura and the American pair Brice Garnett – Scott Stallings stood T1 at -10. The two teams shared the top of the group thanks to the opening round of 62 strokes on par72.

In calculating the score for this match, Ventura scored seven birdies while Hovland had three birdies, and Garnett and Stallings both had five.

Immediately after T1 is T3 consisting of seven pairs at -9. The defending champion Jon Rahm – Ryan Palmer stood T16 with a score of -7. Last year, Rahm – Palmer failed to defend the title because the award was canceled because of Covid-19. In 2019, they won at -26, each with $ 1,051 million.

After 36 holes, the Organizing Committee cut the type according to the principle of taking top or T33.

If the performance level is equal after 72 norm holes, the final result will be determined by the auxiliary hole. In this match, they fought the foursome first and would go to a fourball if they still drew. The two modes will alternate until they fall five.

Upon winning the Zurich Classic, a member of the championship team is entitled to a two-year PGA Tour slot, tickets to The Players Championship and major PGA Championship.

Quoc Huy (according to the PGA Tour)