The PGA Tour heads to New Orleans this week for the Zurich Classic. This event is the only team tournament on the current schedule, with PGA Tour stars combining to compete for the title. Here is how the format works.
Thursday’s first round will begin with a four-ball better-ball format. This means that both players in the pair will play their own ball for every shot. At the end of each hole, whoever makes the lowest score out of the duo, their score is counted towards the team total in relation to par.
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The Strategy Behind Pairs Formats
The Zurich Classic is played at TPC Louisiana, with 2026 marking the ninth year that this tournament has been played in pairs.
Three of the four par 3s on this course are on odd-numbered holes, the third, ninth and 17th.
One member of the team may be a significantly better par 3 or iron player than the other, so they are more likely to tee off on the odd holes in foursomes.
TPC Louisiana boasts sturdy one-shotters, as they all typically play over 200 yards, so a strong mid-to-long iron player is required to give a pair a good chance at making par or birdie.
The four par 5s at the…
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