Zurich Classic begins Augusta warm up

BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2008 Zurich Classic of New Orleans | Preview | 27 Mar 2008

The Zurich Classic of New Orleans at the TPC Louisiana in Avondale has a new dynamic this year as it provides a possible option for players in their lead up to the first major of the year. With the Masters now just two weeks away, those players preferring to have a week off immediately prior to Augusta National might play this week and miss the Shell Houston Open while others may play both or, in the case of Tiger Woods, neither.

The time honoured event or its equivalent has been part of the USPGA Tour since Harry Cooper won its very first staging back in 1938. It became the Zurich Classic when Zurich Life merged with HP, a previous sponsor of the event.

The tournament moved to this venue in 2005 but soon after Hurricane Katrina arrived and the subsequent damage to the course and the area would require a return to the event’s home of 15 years, English Turn Golf and Country Club in 2006 before returning to the Pete Dye designed TPC Louisiana last year. Steve Elkington and Kelly Gibson also played a role in the design of this layout.

The defending champion is Nick Watney who won for the first time on the PGA Tour with his victory by three over Ken Duke and continued a tradition of first time PGA Tour winners of this event. Nine of the previous eighteen winners of the event made New Orleans their first victory at this level.

The event has attracted only two players from the top ten namely Jim Furyk and Steve Stricker although Padraig Harrington, Stewart Cink and Zach Johnson make up five from the top twenty. Retief Goosen is a player deserving of a place in the top twenty and given his improving form in recent weeks should soon be back there.

Jim Furyk was impressive last week after a period of below par efforts for him. This is the first time he has played this event for twelve years so this is a new venue for him although it is for many others also.

Steve Stricker had a very solid week last week when 6th at Doral and did finish 11th at this venue last year. Stricker has been simply stunning in his last two years on the PGA Tour although there has only been the one victory since 2001, that coming at the Barclays last year. This offers a great chance to improve that statistic.

Stewart Cink has played some great golf this year and although he has not played this course in tournament play or this event for quite some time he is playing consistently enough to be considered a chance.

Retief Goosen is definitely on the way back. Currently in 26th place in the world ranking, his great week last week at Doral is a better reflection on where he is at with his game right now. Goosen has played this event only once but that was at English Turn two years ago.

Anthony Kim finished third after a final round of 65 at this venue last year and is developing into one of the better young players on the PGA Tour. He finished 5th in the European Tour’s Ballantines event in Korea recently and it would be no surprise if he goes well this week.

With his Masters defence just two weeks away Zach Johnson appears to be peaking at the right time. He has made his last 11 cuts on the PGA Tour although his top ten last week at Doral was his best in some time. He missed the cut in his only start in this event two years ago but that was at English Turn and he could do well this week as his game continues to sharpen.

Bo Van Pelt did well when runner up last week in Puerto Rico after leading for most of the tournament. He has played well on both occasions he has played TPC Louisiana and it would not surprise to see the improvement shown in Puerto Rico continue.

Tim Clark has yet to win on the PGA Tour but surely it must come soon. He contended in this event at this venue in 2005 before a last round of 77 and seems to be on the improve in the last two weeks. His 12th place at Doral was perhaps better then the placing might suggest. This, as mentioned, is an event that has produced first time winners.

John Merrick is another without a win but who is playing very well in his second season on the PGA Tour. He was a very respectable 18th in this event last year.

The Australasians are well represented numerically with John Senden leading the way in terms of world ranking. Senden is only two weeks away from his first Augusta appearance and with a recent runner up finish in Tampa he will be keen to keep the momentum going given what lies ahead. Senden has played quite well in New Orleans although he has yet to play this venue.

Nathan Green, Rod Pampling, Peter Lonard, Jason Day, Matt Jones, co-designer Steve Elkington, Nick Flanagan, Mathew Goggin, Steve Allan, Stephen Leaney, Brett Rumford and Mark Hensby make up the rest of the Australians while New Zealander Tim Wilkinson looks to follow up his best finish on the PGA Tour when 6th in Puerto Rico last week.