PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- The PGA TOUR announced that the TPC Louisiana will once again host the Zurich Classic of New Orleans for the next two years, following a one-year hiatus. The Club, which sustained significant damage from Hurricane Katrina, is scheduled to reopen to the public on Saturday, July 15. The announcement was made by PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem.

"We are excited about reopening the TPC Louisiana and look forward to working with Zurich Financial to make the 2007 Zurich Classic of New Orleans an outstanding success," said Finchem. "Most importantly, we look forward to continuing to support the exceptional philanthropic efforts of the Fore!Kids Foundation, which annually benefits more than 100,000 children in the greater New Orleans area."

James J. Schiro, CEO of Zurich Financial Services, added, "Everyone involved with the Zurich Classic of New Orleans is excited about the reopening of the Club and the return of the tournament to the TPC Louisiana. This signifies another step on the road to recovery for New Orleans and we look forward to another exciting tournament in 2007."

Named by Golf Digest the "No. 4 Best Upscale Public Golf Course" when it opened in 2004, the TPC Louisiana became the new home for the PGA TOUR's Zurich Classic of New Orleans in 2005, but was unable to host the event in April due to storm damage. The Zurich Classic instead was held at English Turn Country Club, the tournament's previous host site. Designed by world renowned golf course architect Pete Dye, with PGA TOUR players Steve Elkington and New Orleans native Kelly Gibson serving as player consultants, the TPC Louisiana was already undergoing competitive enhancements when the storm hit last August.

In addition to announcing the return of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans to the TPC Louisiana, the PGA TOUR Policy Board approved a series of competitive enhancements at the TPC Louisiana designed to dramatically improve both the strategic presentation and aesthetics of the golf course.

Initial work will center upon enhancing the drama and visual appeal of hole 9 and finishing holes 16, 17 and 18. Among others, improvements will include the modification of numerous tee angles and heights to improve sightlines from the tees, hole variety improvements from the standpoint of length, hole strategy and landscape aesthetics, and the redesign of numerous bunkers to better test players' accuracy off the tee shot and provide for greater risk/reward. Significant landscaping improvements will further improve the visual interest of the course.

Planned improvements are expected to be well-received by Zurich Classic of New Orleans competitors when the tournament returns to the TPC Louisiana in April 2007. The only PGA TOUR event in the state of Louisiana, the Zurich Classic generates more than $25 million annually for the local economy. The tournament also serves as the pinnacle fundraising vehicle for the Fore!Kids Foundation, a New Orleans based non-profit organization that has provided more than $13 million in funding to local and regional children's charities.

"We are thrilled that the Zurich Classic of New Orleans will be returning to the TPC Louisiana and look forward to working with the PGA TOUR and Zurich Financial to show that the city of New Orleans is not only back on track, but poised to once again claim its place as one of the most vibrant and dynamic cities in the world," said Fore!Kids Foundation Chairman of the Board Mike Rodrigue.

"The reopening of the TPC Louisiana is further evidence that the greater New Orleans area is recovering from Hurricane Katrina. This world-class facility will provide an additional amenity for tourism growth," said Louisiana State Representative John A. Alario, Jr.

PGA TOUR Commissioner Finchem added, "We are very appreciative for the considerable support we have received from the State of Louisiana and are indebted to the exceptional team at English Turn for the great event they produced this year."