The US PGA Tour's Zurich Classic of New Orleans will reportedly switch to a two-man team format in 2017, becoming the Tour's first team event in nearly 40 years.
According to Golf Channel reporter George Savaricas, the event will
feature 80 teams of two. Both members of the winning team will receive
the two-year Tour exemption that typically accompanies a victory in an
official event, and each winning player will receive 400
FedEx Cup points. A regular tournament offers 500 points to the winner and 300 to the runner-up.
The top 80 qualifiers will be allowed to choose their own team-mates,
with the caveat that their partner must have at least some US PGA Tour
status this season. If not, the selection will require the use of a
sponsor invite.
Savaricas reports that play will include one round of foursomes
(alternate shot) and one round of fourballs (best ball) before the
36-hole cut.
A US PGA Tour official declined to comment on any proposed changes to the tournament's format.
Should the changes be implemented, it will mark the overhaul of an
event that sometimes struggles to draw an elite field and often battles
inclement weather delays during its late spring slot on the schedule.
This year it took until Monday to complete 54 holes at
TPC Louisiana,
where the truncated event was won by Brian Stuard in a play-off over
Jamie Lovemark and Byeong-Hun An. Next year's event will be held April
27-30.
The most recent official team event on Tour was the Walt Disney World
National Team Championship, which featured a two-man format from
1974-81 before reverting back to individual stroke play in 1982.
For further details on the proposed changes, tune into "
Golf Central" at 6 p.m. ET.
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