Zurich Classic returns to TPC Louisiana
IN: News | US PGA | Zurich Classic of New Orleans (2007) | Preview | by Bruce Young | 18 Apr 2007
The PGA Tour is in Avondale, Louisiana, this week for the Zurich Classic of New Orleans and as the tournament name would suggest, the venue, the TPC Louisiana, is within the Greater New Orleans area.
The TPC Louisiana is a Pete Dye designed layout measuring 7341 yards and opened in 2004. The course played host to this event in 2005 but after the battering it and the New Orleans area took from Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the tournament was relocated to its long time home English Turn last year before its return to the TPC this year. The course lost nearly 2000 tress during the ravages of the storm.
The defending champion is Chris Couch, who won his maiden PGA Tour title last year but the man who won when the event was last played here was Tim Petrovic, who defeated Jim Driscoll in a playoff in 2005. Petrovic was also a first time PGA Tour winner at the time, in fact first time PGA Tour winners have become the norm at this event with eight of the champions since 1990 being in that category.
The tournament favourite is Louisiana’s favourite golfing son, David Toms, who has played well in recent weeks including a 9th place finish at Augusta National and although he has not played well in this event in recent years, he is the leading world ranked player in the field.
Bo Van Pelt finished 5th at this venue in 2005 and appears to be getting close to the sort of form that could make him yet another first time PGA Tour winner at this event.
Lucas Glover and Chris DiMarco shared third place in 2005 and Glover was also inside the top ten in 2006 at English Turn but neither has been at their best of late.
Mark Calcavecchia is playing well enough to win his second event in his last six starts. He did not play this venue in 2005 but finished 25th in the event last year. His win at the PODS Championship five weeks highlights a player in good enough form to win against this field.
Sean O’Hair looked to be one of the next best things on the PGA Tour when he was Rookie of the Year in 2005 and in recent weeks he appears to be getting back to that form. He was 14th in 2005 at this venue and his 7th place finish last week at Harbour Town tells the story of his recent improvement.
Stephen Leaney had a great chance to win for the first time on the USPGA Tour last week when he led with a few holes to go but this week he gets another chance. He has found some very good form in recent weeks after a very ordinary start to the season.
Boo Weekly will do well to follow up his maiden win last week but his performance will be watched with interest by his rapidly growing fan base.
The Argentine’s Jose Coceres, nearly won in Mexico a few weeks ago and in following weeks has continued to perform well. He might surprise this week as might Steve Stricker who has shown on occasions in recent months that he is getting back to the fine player he was several years ago.
The Australians, apart from Leaney, have several good chances. Nathan Green, Peter Lonard, Andrew Buckle, Matthew Goggin, Jarrod Lyle, an improving Mark Hensby, Gavin Coles, Steve Elkington, Paul Gow, Michael Sim, Steve Allan and Steve Bowditch all get their chance to improve their positions on the money list.
Western Australian, Michael Sim, played his first tournament back at last week’s South Georgia Classic since incurring a back injury late last year while in the process of gaining his USPGA Tour card via the Nationwide Tour. The former number one amateur in the world is expected to be a successful player on the PGA Tour in time but he will need several weeks to get back to 'tournament fitness’.
For a field that includes only one player from the top twenty in the world the event boasts significant prizemoney – $US6.1 million.
