The Zurich Classic of New Orleans is a unique event on the PGA Tour as the only team tournament among a plethora of large-scale stroke play competitions.
The unique format of the Zurich Classic sees 80 pairs of 160 PGA Tour pros compete in a combination of fourballs (also known as best ball) in rounds one and three, and foursomes (alternative shot) in rounds two and four.
As with any other PGA Tour event, the lowest score wins and the title counts for both players, giving each pro a two-year exemption and a spot at The Players Championship the following season.
Not only that, but the champion duo also claim spots at the upcoming PGA Championship and remaining Signature Events, as well as next term's Sentry tournament.
However, regarding some of the other perks including with a PGA Tour win, there are a couple of important differences.
The key one involves prize money as players earn a share of a two-spot-structure payout. So the winning pair will split the first and second-place earnings, while the runners-up equally divide the third and fourth-place check, and so on. FedEx Cup points are worked out in the same manner, with the champion duo each scooping 400 points.
The overall Zurich Classic of New Orleans prize money payout has risen once again from $8.9 million to $9.2 million, with the winners receiving $2,658,800. But as we've just highlighted, that is not per golfer. Each member of the triumphant pair will collect $1,329,400.
Another contrast to a regular PGA Tour victory pertains to Official World Golf Ranking points. None are on offer at all at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, so players may end up winning the event and moving down the world rankings. Also, the two successful players will not earn a place at next year's Masters tournament, either.
In 2025, defending champions Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry will hope to maintain their 100% record at the event while the likes of Collin Morikawa and Kurt Kitayama, Wyndham Clark and Taylor Moore, plus Thomas Detry and Robert MacIntyre try to stop them.
This year also sees three sets of brothers in the field, with Nicolai and Rasmus Hojgaard, Yannik and Jeremy Paul as well as Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick all going for a historic title.
