Within the cadence of the 2018-19 PGA TOUR season, a new rhythm exists. The downbeat occurred in earnest with the return of THE PLAYERS Championship to March, and it’s maintained a toe-tapping groove that has included unique events like the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play and this week’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans. There’s no better place than the birthplace of jazz to keep the jam going. This is the third edition of the team format in which there are 80 duets, if you will. It’s a phenomenal opportunity for fans to learn more about the relationships and harmony between players. POWER RANKINGS: ZURICH CLASSIC OF NEW ORLEANS OTHERS CONSIDERED Brooks Koepka & Chase Koepka Bubba Watson & J.B. Holmes Jason Kokrak & Chris Stroud Branden Grace & Justin Harding Russell Knox & Brian Stuard PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf omits the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, so Tuesday’s Fantasy Insider will be presented in an abridged format. As it was for 11 editions of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans as an individual event, TPC Louisiana is the backdrop for the PGA TOUR’s only team competition. All 160 in the field are professionals. The first and third rounds are scored as best ball (also known as four-ball), while the second and fourth rounds are scored using alternate shot (also known as foursomes). Teams inside the top 35 and ties at the conclusion of 36 holes will make the cut. The secondary-cut provision (i.e. MDF) does not apply. TPC Louisiana is a scorable par 72 with the full complement of four par 5s. It can stretch to 7,425 yards. Only the bermuda greens are overseeded, and they’re prepped to run upwards of 12 feet on the Stimpmeter. While that speed is standard for TOUR tracks, severe undulations contribute to the challenge and the targets average just 5,225 square feet. Together they elevate the value of proximity to the hole on approach. Because fairways are welcoming and in part because of the format, long hitters are encouraged to show us what they got, at least in best ball. The field’s average of distance of all drives for the first two spins as a team competition slotted TPC Louisiana inside the top-half shortest. By comparison, last year’s clip of 278.7 yards was one-tenth of one yard shorter than Sea Island’s Seaside Course, host of The RSM Classic and not considered a bomber’s paradise. Still, encouraging the thought of stepping on it is semi-dormant bermuda rough cut to just one-and-three-quarters inches this year. That’s down one-quarter of an inch from 2018. Spring in the bayou always include the threat of inclement conditions, but this week’s complications are isolated pre-cut. After a mild risk might gurgle on Thursday afternoon, the more probable concern is forecast for Friday afternoon. Otherwise, it’ll be quite nice with daytime highs flirting with 80 degrees and light-to-moderate winds throughout. When the winners are crowned on Sunday, each will receive 400 FedExCup points. That’s the average between first and second place in regular individual competitions. Similarly split, each co-champion will pocket $1,051,200.00. Both will earn two-year membership exemptions or an additional season to the maximum of five from the current if already exempt through 2020-21. They’ll also secure exemptions into next month’s PGA Championship, the 2020 Sentry Tournament of Champions, the 2020 PLAYERS and other invitationals if not currently eligible. Official World Golf Ranking points are not distributed for this tournament, but the top-five teams are eligible for the top-10 provision that grants entry into next week’s Wells Fargo Championship. Assuming you like what you experience, you’ll love the reminder that at the conclusion of last year’s edition, Zurich Insurance extended its partnership with the tournament through 2026. ROB BOLTON’S SCHEDULE PGATOUR.COM’s Fantasy Insider Rob Bolton covers numerous angles in between tournaments. Look for his following contributions this week. MONDAY: Rookie Ranking, Qualifiers, Reshuffle, Medical Extensions, Power Rankings TUESDAY*: Sleepers, Fantasy Insider WEDNESDAY: One & Done THURSDAY: Champions One & Done * – Rob is a member of the panel for PGATOUR.COM’s Expert Picks for PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf presented by SERVPRO, which also publishes on Tuesdays.
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