At least the PGA Tour is trying, it seems. Amid the hurricane of news on Tuesday, Golf Channel anchor George Savaricas tweeted an interesting piece of news around midday.
Have it confirmed that @Zurich_Classic is becoming a 2-man team event starting in 2017 I’ll have more on @GolfChannel at 6ET
— George Savaricas (@GeorgeSavaricas) November 8, 2016
Here’s the full dispatch from GolfChannel.com’s Will Gray.
The Zurich Classic of New Orleans will reportedly switch to a two-man team format in 2017, becoming the PGA Tour’s first team event in nearly 40 years.
According to Golf Channel reporter George Savaricas, the event will feature 80 teams of two. Both members of the winning team will receive the two-year Tour exemption that typically accompanies a victory in an official event, and each winning player will receive 400 FedEx Cup points. A regular tournament offers 500 points to the winner and 300 to the runner-up.
Zurich Classic will reportedly become 80-team event of two-man teams. Love it. Golf needs more differentiation. It needs to break the mold.
— Jason Sobel (@JasonSobelESPN) November 8, 2016
According to Savaricas, both winning team members will earn spots in the Tournament of Champions and PGA Championship, but will not receive Masters invitations for the team win.
The top 80 qualifiers will be allowed to choose their own teammate, with the caveat that their partner must have at least some PGA Tour status this season. If not, the selection will require the use of a sponsor invite.
Savaricas reports that play will include one round of foursomes (alternate shot) and one round of fourballs (best ball) before the 36-hole cut to the low 35 teams.
This whole format sounds awesome, and almost too good to be true. Good for the PGA Tour for trying to push the envelope a little bit.
