The 2009 Zurich Classic of New Orleans golf tournament
 When April 23 - 26 2009
Where TPC Louisiana, Avondale, Louisiana
Defending Champion Andres Romeroy
Prize Money $6,200,000
Winner Prize Money $1,116,000
The Zurich Classic is being played at the Pete Dye/Steve Elkington designed TPC of Louisiana golf club. The PGA TOUR announced that the TPC Louisiana will host the Zurich Classic of New Orleans for the next two years.
This tournament has been around for a long time, and been known by many different names. New Orleans Louisiana has been a stop on the professional golf circuit since 1938 beginning with the Crescent City Open which then became known as the New Orleans Open.
Those early 'New Orlean's Opens' were played at the City Park golf club and then at Lakewood golf club from 1963 to 1989. The venue then moved to the Jack Nicklaus designed English Turn golf club until 2004, when the new TPC Louisiana was completed in 2005.
In 2006, the new course was destroyed by 20 feet of water by Hurricane Katrina and then the event went back to English Turn until returning to TPC of Louisiana golf club in 2008.
In addition, Dye installed numerous waste bunkers. Some 20 acres of the 80-plus acres of playing area were covered in sand. The water hazards had to be created.
The course offers four sets of tees, and even though the championship course stretches to 7,300 yards from the championship tees, Dye is pleased about a collection of short but challenging par-4 holes that complement some of the longer ones.
From 2002 through 2007, five of the six tournament winners earned their first victories on the PGA Tour (K.J. Choi, 2002; Steve Flesch, 2003; Tim Petrovic, 2005; Chris Couch, 2006; Nick Watney, 2007).
Famous champions of the past Zurich lassic tournaments include Jack Nicklaus, Davis Love III, David Toms, and 2004 winner Vijay Singh.
2009 TPC Zurich Classic Results
 Jerry Kelly was hungry for a victory. More importantly, he was just plain hungry.
Following his Wednesday pro-am at the Zurich Classic, Kelly revealed -- no, bragged -- that he had put away three-dozen char-grilled oysters at the turn. Which was nothing, really, considering his all-time personal record of 58 in one sitting.
During a week in which French Quarter eateries are often more populated by PGA Tour players than the driving range, Kelly's appetite was finally satisfied with a final-round 71 that ended with a par on the 72nd hole to win by a single shot.
And so it was only fitting that he preceded the final 2 strokes by rubbing his belly while walking down the fairway and was later served -- what else? -- more oysters as a celebratory victory meal.
This edition of the Weekly 18 begins with a look into the incredible, edible week that was for Jerry Kelly.
2008 TPC Zurich Classic Results
Argentina’s Andres Romero won the Zurich Classic in his 12th career start on the PGA TOUR, closing with a 4-under 68 hours before the other contenders finished en route to a one-stroke victory over Australia’s Peter Lonard.
The consolation for Lonard—besides the $669,600 second-place money—is that the runner-up finish should get him into the Masters by moving him from No. 72 to No. 50 in the world. The Zurich Classic was the final week to earn a spot at Augusta National through the world ranking.
2009 Zurich Classic of New Orleans Chamionship Schedule
Thursday, April 23
* First Round, 7:00 AM
* #1 and #10 tee starts
* TV coverage 2:00 - 5:00 PM
Friday, April 24
* Second Round, 7:00 AM
* #1 and #10 tee starts
* TV coverage 2:00 - 5:00 PM
Saturday, April 25
* Third Round, 7:30 AM (Approx.)
* #1 tee start
* Network coverage 2:00 - 5:00 PM
* Music by TBA in the Coca-Cola Grille after last putt drops
Sunday, April 26
* Championship Round, 7:30 AM (approx.)
* #1 tee start
* Network coverage 2:00 - 5:00 PM
* Music by TBA in the Coca-Cola Grille after last putt drops |
