John Daly playing in a New Orleans golf tournament?
Perhaps his partner can keep him straight, at least in terms of fairways.
This week, the PGA Tour’s Zurich Classic is being played at TPC Louisiana in Avondale (Louisiana), about 15 miles and across the Mississippi River, from Bourbon Street. The Tour’s sole team stroke-play competition will feature 80 two-man teams.
The event this year has some of the most intriguing partnerships since it changed to the new format in 2017. Daly is playing with Jacksonville native David Duval and one of only two teams that includes PGA Tour Champions members.
Daly won the British Open in 1995 and the British PGA in 1991. Duval’s 13 PGA Tour victories include the 2001 British Open, the 1999 Players and the 2001 British Open.
David Duval during the Open Championships at Royal Portrush. (Photo by Ian Rutherford/USA TODAY Sports).
Most of the players on the Zurich Tour don’t know that Duval and Daly played money games with each other when they were at their peak and won quite a bit of money.
Watch out for these other teams next week.
- Patrick Cantlay, the defending champion, and Xander Schaffele are back. Cantlay has already started his clock, according to reports. This team has grown to be formidable: they have gone 6-3 in the three last international match-play events (2019, 2022 Presidents Cups and 2021 Ryder Cup).
- Billy Horschel is partnering up with Sam Burns again. Last year, they finished in second place by two shots. Horschel won the Zurich Classic both as an individual (2013 and 2018) and with a team.
- Sam Ryder and Doc Redman have reunited. Last year, they finished third.
- Zach Johnson and Steve Stricker form a team consisting of the most recent and current U.S. Ryder Cup Captains. Stricker also serves as the Constellation furyk & friends champion.
- Si Woo Kim will be reunited with Tom Kim in their partnership for the 2022 Presidents Cup that won Cantlay and Schauffele by a single point.
- Collin Morikawa, a two-time major winner, and Max Homa could be the team to beat.
- The following players are also from Sweden: David Lingmerth, Jonas Blixt, Tyson Alexander, and Carl Yuan. Blixt and 2022 Players champion Cameron Smith won the Zurich Classic in 2017.
