Zurich Classic Golf Tournament New Orleans
- Zurich Classic Golf Tournament In New Orleans
- Zurich Classic Golf Tournament New Orleans
- Zurich Classic Golf Tournament New Orleans
- Zurich Classic Golf Tournament New Orleans 2019
Despite its cancellation, Zurich Classic of New Orleans to match last year’s charitable total of more than $1.5 million Few, if any, would dispute the unrelenting power of the heart of New Orleans.
- Tee times are typically posted the day before tournament play begins. These times are for informational purposes only. The official groupings and starting times are posted at the tournament site.
- For Professional Golf at its Finest, it’s the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. If you’re an avid golfer, an avid golf fan, or just an avid fan of world-class sports, you don’t want to miss the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, a PGA pro tour event at the end of April.
Without regard to circumstance, its steady beat serves as a constant reminder of the Crescent City’s collective resilience and, ultimately, its resolve.
Now called the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, the tournament was first played in 1938. With the exception of a gap in the 1940s and '50s, this event has been played ever since in the Crescent City. Switch to Team Format The Zurich Classic switched from stroke play to a team format beginning in 2017.
New Orleans is a place that can – and does – elevate spirits as it celebrates the good times. More importantly, though, it’s a place that picks up its own when times are challenging.
Nowhere is the essence of that vibe more prevalent than at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
By now, it’s news to none that the 2020 Zurich Classic of New Orleans was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. What may be news to some is that net proceeds from each week’s PGA TOUR event translate to desperately-needed funds for the communities in which those events are contested.
To give that perspective, throughout the course of a single PGA TOUR season, upwards of $200 million is provided to individuals and organizations in need across its six Tours. A record $204.3 million was generated in 2019 alone, bringing the all-time total to more than $3 billion.
As a global leader in the insurance industry for nearly 150 years, Zurich has adhered to a simple philosophy – to ensure the best protection for people and the things they value. So, while there was no tournament last week at TPC Louisiana, true to its impassioned drive, Zurich has decided the show will go on.
In an unprecedented move, Zurich will provide full financial support of more than $1.5 million to the Fore!Kids Foundation. The total will match last year’s direct tournament donations.
“Because of this, the Fore!Kids Foundation is able to continue their support of the Louisiana Hospitality Foundation’s mission, which is crisis grants for hospitality workers,” said David Blitch, President and Co-Founder of the Louisiana Hospitality Foundation.
“These funds were going to be difficult to come by this year. Because of their donations, we will not only be able to help hundreds, but maybe thousands who have crisis during this difficult time. We can’t thank the Fore!Kids Foundation and Zurich enough for their donation.”
Since taking over as the title sponsor of the historic New Orleans event in 2005, Zurich has helped contribute more than $21 million to local charities.
The tournament’s primary charity, which has been the case for more than six decades, is the Fore!Kids Foundation. The foundation raises money to fund children’s service organizations through the game of golf. Each year, over 200 charities – totaling more than 200,000 children – are beneficiaries of the Fore!Kids Foundation.
“We’re happy to say the cancellation of this year’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans isn’t the end of the story,” said Kathleen Savio, CEO of Zurich North America. “We’re honored to work with the PGA TOUR and the Fore!Kids Foundation to continue the tradition of giving to nonprofits in New Orleans, so that they can continue to help people during a critical time of need.”
The more than $1.5 million gesture not only affirms Zurich’s desire to help those in need, but illustrates the company’s intention to remain a close part of the New Orleans community – through thick and thin.
Annual funds from the Zurich Classic of New Orleans to the Fore!Kids Foundation are remarkably far-reaching and go towards such efforts as tearing down and rebuilding homes, providing food to those in need and funding children’s service organizations.
Additional beneficiaries include, but are not limited to: Educare New Orleans at Columbia Parc; 2020 Community Impact Award winners Raphael Village and The Bright School; the St. Michael Special School; and Blessings in a Backpack.
Impressive as they are, though, lists and numbers tell only part of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans story.
The tangible results are seen on the faces of the city’s residents. They are revealed through the words of those who would likely have had nowhere to turn.
“Louisiana Hospitality Foundation changed my life,” said Lynn, a hospitality worker and beneficiary of Louisiana Hospitality Foundation. “I was a breast cancer survivor just drowning in a sea of exorbitant deductibles. They swept in in my time of need, and thanks to (the Zurich Classic of New Orleans), we can move forward and continue to help people like me in hospitality focus on our health and making people happy through our profession.”
“Zurich has been an amazing community partner in the city of New Orleans and a great supporter of Excite All Stars,” said Gerald Williams, Founder of Excite All Stars. “We could not do what we do without the support of Zurich. They stepped up in our city after Katrina, and now they’re stepping up again during COVID-19.”
Having helped over 2,200 families since its 2008 inception, Excite All Stars provides positive experiences and education to the children and teenagers of New Orleans in need of assistance.
“We are so grateful that they made a commitment to support youth organizations throughout this crisis,” Williams said. “That shows us they care.”
There was no Zurich Classic of New Orleans last week. It was quiet at TPC Louisiana.
But, really, given the size of its heart, the annual PGA TOUR event on New Orleans’ West Bank never went away. It played on.
And, now, that’s producing a beat stronger and louder than ever.
- Date: Apr 19 - 25, 2021
- Location: TPC Louisiana
Zurich Classic Golf Tournament In New Orleans
For Professional Golf at its Finest, it’s the Zurich Classic of New Orleans
If you’re an avid golfer, an avid golf fan, or just an avid fan of world-class sports, you don’t want to miss the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, a PGA pro tour event at the end of April.
An Annual Event Since 1958
What is known today as the Zurich Classic (sponsored by Zurich Insurance Group of Switzerland) has had other official names over the years. Prior to Zurich sponsorship, which began in 2005, it was the HP Classic, and before that the Compaq Classic. One of the longest-running versions of the tournament was the Greater New Orleans Open Invitational, which took place from 1958 to 1971.
But no matter what the event is called, one thing fans can count on is top-flight competition among golf’s greatest players. The 2015 edition was won by Justin Rose of England, champion of the 2013 U.S. Open. Other winners across the decades easily make up a who’s-who list of the golf world:
Bubba Watson (2011); Nick Watney (2007); Vijay Singh (2004); Davis Love III (1995); Ben Crenshaw (1994); Tom Watson (1980, 1981); Larry Ziegler (1976); Lee Trevino (1974); Jack Nicklaus (1973) and many others.
TCP Louisiana: A Fitting Venue
Zurich Classic Golf Tournament New Orleans
The tournament’s current home is TPC Louisiana, just west of New Orleans in Avondale, where the event has run since 2005, save for a year off in 2006 for hurricane clean-up. Breathtaking scenery and immaculately manicured greens are hallmarks of this lovely course that is consistently ranked among the country’s finest by leading golf experts and publications.
Zurich Classic Golf Tournament New Orleans
What Will Happen at This Year’s Zurich Classic?
We can’t say exactly how the tournament will unfold this year, but if years past are any indicator, be ready for thrills, excitement and some of the best golf played anywhere in the world. Here are a few past-years highlights:
- The winner has been decided by one or two strokes or a playoff 45 times
- Justin Rose’s take as the 2015 winner: $1,242,000 (total price fund for 2016 is $7,000,000)
- Tournament score record: 262 by Chip Black in 1988
- Furthest under par: -26, also by Chip Black in 1988
- Players who have won the tournament twice include Byron Nelson, Billy Casper, Tom Watson, Chip Beck, Ben Crenshaw, Carlos Franco, Frank Beard, Henry Picard and Bo Wininger
Zurich Classic Golf Tournament New Orleans 2019
A daily ticket gets you not only amazing professional golf but also plenty of great music from local artists and, of course, the food that made New Orleans famous such as po-boys, crawfish and beignets. Learn more on the Zurich Classic official website and prepare for a spring outing like no other.