AVONDALE, La. – A three-legged alligator. Walk-up (and now walk-out) music. The PGA TOUR’s only FedExCup team event, with Four-balls on two days and Foursomes on the other two. If everything is bigger in neighboring Texas, then everything is just different here in Louisiana at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Plus, you’ll gain at least five pounds from eating char-grilled oysters all week. THREE TEAMS TO PONDER Jason Day-Adam Scott The two Aussie stars are among the favorites this week — and also showcasing their partnership for December’s Presidents Cup. Brooks Koepka-Chase Koepka The brothers partnered two years ago and finished T-5. That was back before Brooks started winning all those majors. Billy Horschel-Scott Piercy Horschel is tired but loves this course; Piercy is rested but TPC Louisiana is not his favorite. Sounds like good chemistry for a title defense. THE FLYOVER TPC Louisiana’s 18th hole is a par 5 playing at 585 yards. But it’s not necessarily a pushover. A year ago, it ranked 11th in stroke average at 4.797 and offered just two eagles. The year before, it was a bit easier, at 4.630 with five eagles. With water down the entire right side and bunkers around the green, it can sometimes provide as much bite as the alligators that hang out near the grandstands. LANDING ZONE The par-4 16th registers at 355 yards on the scorecard, but in the final two rounds last year, it played to less than 315 yards, with nearly 40 percent of the field going for the green on the weekend. Water protects the green so the conservative play is a long iron to avoid the fairway bunker complex. Here’s a look at where all tee shot landed last year. WEATHER CHECK From PGA TOUR meteorologist Wade Stettner: “A low pressure system will move through Louisiana on Thursday and produce widespread showers and thunderstorms. Timing has moved up a few hours and the best chance for thunderstorms is forecast between 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Total rainfall on Thursday could exceed 1 inch. Dry weather is forecast from Friday through Sunday as high pressure settles across the state. Temperatures will be seasonal through the weekend with highs in the lower 80s.â€� For the latest weather news from Avondale, Louisiana, check out PGATOUR.COM’s Weather Hub. SOUND CHECK I love being here. I have good vibes whenever I step on this golf course.Playing in the different format, I think the guys love it. BY THE NUMBERS 30 – Combined PGA TOUR wins of partners Jim Furyk (17) and David Duval (13), the most of any team this week. 47 under – Score for Kevin Kisner-Scott Brown in their first seven rounds together as partners at the Zurich Classic. The other round was a 5-over 77 a year ago on Sunday. 620.8 – Combined driving distance average of partners Cameron Champ (314.8 yards) and Sam Burns (306.0 yards). Champ leads that category this season, while Burns ranks 18th. SCATTERSHOTS Season of championships reps: There are 19 major champions in the field, and 10 of those are in the same partnerships – Ernie Els-Trevor Immelman, Louis Oosthuizen-Charl Schwartzel, Jason Day-Adam Scott, Henrik Stenson-Graeme McDowell and David Duval-Jim Furyk. The only partnership of two PLAYERS Championship winners is Day-Scott – who are also the only pair of teammates each ranked inside the top 32 of the current FedExCup standings. Duval-Furyk is the only team in which both players have shot sub-60 rounds on TOUR. Walk-up music: The 35 teams (and ties) who make the cut will have their choice of walk-up music played as they start Saturday’s third round. Teams were asked to make a selection prior to the start of play, and at least three teams are using Dropkick Murphys’ “I’m Shipping Up to Boston.â€� At least two are using Metallica’s “Enter Sandman.â€� There are at least two Queen songs selected, including Tommy Fleetwood-Sergio Garcia going with “Radio Gaga.â€� Explained Garcia: “I’m a big Queen fan.â€� But perhaps the most interesting (unusual?) choice comes from the team of Billy Hurley III-Peter Malnati: “If You’re Happy and You Know It (Clap Your Hands).â€� Kisner-Brown form: Scott Brown has three top-10s in his last 10 starts. Kevin Kisner has just one … but it was a biggie, as he won the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play. Kisner hasn’t missed a cut in that stretch while Brown has missed five. “Golf is a fickle game and I’m not too worried about form as much as camaraderie and enjoying the week together,â€� Kisner said. The Kisner-Brown team lost in a playoff here in 2017 and had the 54-hole lead last year before shooting a Sunday 77 in Foursomes.
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