Zurich Classic of New Orleans preview

The PGA Tour heads away from the Eastern Seaboard this week to Louisiana for the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Jerry Kelly defends the title.

Jerry Kelly
Fergus Bisset
By
published

Lowdown: The PGA Tour heads away from the Eastern Seaboard this week to Louisiana for the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Jerry Kelly defends the title. One of the oldest events on the PGA Tour, the New Orleans Open was first contested in 1939. Over the years the tournament has produced a diverse selection of victors - eight different nations have been represented in the winner's circle over the last 20 years. Given the cultural melting pot that is the city of New Orleans, such variation seems appropriate. Last season Jerry Kelly fought back from a mid-round stumble to beat Charles Howell III, Rory Sabbatini and Charlie Wi by a stroke, ending a seven year winless streak on the PGA Tour. TPC Louisiana was altered dramatically by original designer Pete Dye after the 2005 tournament. Bucking the modern trend, the majority of his alterations involved shortening holes and adding hazards to demand a more strategic approach. It's a strong field this week and England is, once again, well represented. Ian Poulter is joined in the field by Justin Rose, Greg Owen and Brian Davis - fresh off a playoff defeat in last week's Verizon Heritage.

Venue: TPC Louisiana, Louisiana Date: Apr 22-25 Course stats: par 72, 7,341 yards Purse: $6,200,000 Winner: $1,116,000 Defending Champion: Jerry Kelly (-14)

TV Coverage: Thursday 22 - Live on Sky Sports 2 from 8pm Friday 23 - Live on Sky Sports 2 from 8pm Saturday 24 - Live on Sky Sports 2 from 6pm Sunday 25 - Live on Sky Sports 2 from 6pm Player Watch: Charles Howell III - Runner-up last year, Howell has a great record in this event. He's showing consistent form in 2010 and it's about time he stepped into the winner's circle. Steve Stricker - The top ranked player in the field, Stricker is a threat in every tournament he enters. He's making his 12th straight start in the event and finished seventh here last year. Brian Davis - After calling the penalty on himself and losing the playoff at Hilton Head last week, the Englishman will be keen to bounce back strongly. He's renowned as a streaky golfer and he's playing great at the moment.

Key hole: 6th. A 476 yard par 4 that requires a long straight drive before the hole turns straight left to leave a long iron or fairway wood to the green. This was the toughest hole on the course in 2009.

Skills required: Course management. The winner will carefully plot his way round this re-designed layout. Bludgeoning it with the driver is not always the most prudent option.

Fergus Bisset
Fergus Bisset
Contributing Editor

Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He has also worked with Golf Monthly to produce a podcast series. Called 18 Majors: The Golf History Show it offers new and in-depth perspectives on some of the most important moments in golf's long history. You can find all the details about it here.

He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly.

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?

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