TOUR Insider: Change is a constant challenge in New Orleans  PGATOUR.com Senior Correspondent Who better than Zurich to sponsor this week's PGA TOUR stop in New Orleans? The company's motto is, "Zurich ... because change happens." You better believe it. The Zurich Classic of New Orleans has undergone quite a bit of change in the last few years, having taken up new residence in 2005 at the TPC Louisiana and then having to abandon it in '06 for its previous home, English Turn Golf & Country Club, when Hurricane Katrina manhandled the Pete Dye layout.  Louisiana native David Toms always has extra incentive to play well in his home-state tournament. (Gregory Shamus/WireImage)
Now the event is back on TPC property, thanks to a dedicated clean up and restoration that cost roughly $2 million. Katrina, which struck Aug. 29, 2005, knocked down about 2,000 trees and had left the course mostly underwater. Ironically, the course already was undergoing some tweaks when the storm invaded. Among the general changes for the 2007 edition of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, which features the year's first 156-man field, include the widening of some of the more drastic fairway pot bunkers, the planting of more than 300 new trees, and the modification of tee angles on some holes. In addition, two holes were shortened: the par-5 18th, which at 580 yards might now be reachable in two shots; and the 16th, a par 4, which was reduced from 428 to 348 yards. Yardage on the par-72 layout is now roughly 7,400 yards. A few greens, which retained their menacing slopes, were reduced in size, including the 16th. Pot bunkers were removed at the par-3 ninth and 17th greens and bulkheads were installed to bring the water more into play. All in all, the changes to the three finishing holes could make that stretch one of the most volatile in tournament golf this year. Seven of the top 30 golfers in the FedExCup standings highlight the field, led by Boo Weekley, who moved from 36th to eighth place after winning the Verizon Heritage. The others are Mark Calcavecchia at No. 10, Charley Hoffman (No. 15), Heath Slocum (No. 19), Jeff Quinney (No. 23), Bubba Watson (No. 24), and David Toms (No. 27). Worth Knowing: Only one player who finished in the top 10 two years ago at TPC Louisiana followed with another top-10 finish at English Turn last year: Lucas Glover. Meanwhile, five players in the top 10 two years ago missed the cut English Turn, including winner Tim Petrovic and third-place finisher Chris DiMarco. Given this fact, it might be surprising to know that the scoring average at English Turn was nearly two strokes lower than it was at TPC Louisiana in 2005 (70.770 compared to 72.405). But in both cases the winner, Petrovic in '05 and Chris Couch last year, were among the leaders in putting and greens in regulation. There are 29 players making their New Orleans debuts this week -- 27 who haven't yet won on the PGA TOUR. This is significant because seven of the last 11 Zurich Classic winners -- and 15 overall -- previously had not won TOUR titles, including four of the last five. Six of them, including Couch, had either missed the cut the year prior or were making their tournament debut. There are six former New Orleans champions in this week's field. Their finishes at TPC Louisiana: Couch (did not play), Petrovic (2005, win), Steve Flesch (2003, missed cut), David Toms (2001, missed cut), Carlos Franco (1999 and '00, tied 52nd) and Brad Faxon (1997, did not play). Looking for a hot and consistent player this week? Good luck. Only two players ranked in the top-10 in consecutive cuts made are in the field at TPC Louisiana: Toms, who has 15 in a row, which ranks third on TOUR currently, and Michael Putnam, whose nine straight money finishes is tied for 10th. Steve Elkington and Kelly Gibson, player consultants to Pete Dye on the TPC Louisiana design, are entered this week. Gibson, playing in his 18th straight Zurich Classic, missed the cut two years ago while Elkington hasn't teed it up in New Orleans since 2002. Copyright 2007 PGATOUR.com. All rights reserved. |
PGATOUR.com is part of Turner - SI Digital, part of the Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network 