The Zurich Classic of New Orleans 2026 is set to deliver another thrilling week of team golf, bringing a unique format to the PGA Tour calendar. As the only official team-based event on the tour, this tournament stands out with its dynamic play styles, strategic partnerships, and exciting leaderboard shifts.
Hosted at TPC Louisiana, the 2026 edition features 74 two-man teams competing across four days. Fans can expect a mix of fourballs (better ball) and foursomes (alternate shot), making it one of the most entertaining and unpredictable tournaments of the season.
Zurich Classic 2026 Format Explained
The tournament begins on Thursday, April 23, with fourball (best ball) format, where each player plays their own ball, and the team records the lowest score. This format encourages aggressive play and low scoring.
On Friday, teams switch to foursomes (alternate shot), which demands precision, teamwork, and consistency. After the first two rounds, a cut is made to the top 33 teams and ties, ensuring only the best duos advance to the weekend.
The final two rounds alternate formats again:
- Saturday: Fourball
- Sunday: Foursomes (Final Round)
This rotation keeps the competition balanced and tests every aspect of team chemistry.
Zurich Classic 2026 Tee Times (Round 1 Highlights)
🏌️ Zurich Classic 2026 Tee Times (Round 1)
| Time (EDT) | Tee | Team 1 | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8:00 AM | 1 | Austin Cook / Jason Dufner | Sam Stevens / Zach Bauchou |
| 8:00 AM | 10 | Peter Malnati / Russell Knox | Ben Silverman / Cameron Champ |
| 8:13 AM | 1 | Mark Hubbard / Ryan Brehm | Ben Martin / Trace Crowe |
| 8:13 AM | 10 | Charley Hoffman / Nick Watney | Beau Hossler / Sam Ryder |
| 8:26 AM | 1 | Lanto Griffin / Ben Kohles | Chad Ramey / Justin Lower |
| 8:26 AM | 10 | David Lipsky / Rico Hoey | Danny Walker / Jimmy Stanger |
| 8:39 AM | 1 | Kevin Yu / Tom Kim | Taylor Pendrith / Mackenzie Hughes |
| 8:39 AM | 10 | Michael Brennan / Johnny Keefer | Karl Vilips / Michael Thorbjornsen |
| 8:52 AM | 1 | Davis Thompson / Austin Eckroat | Chris Kirk / Patton Kizzire |
| 8:52 AM | 10 | Ben Griffin / Andrew Novak | Wyndham Clark / Taylor Moore |
| 9:05 AM | 1 | Rafael Campos / Alejandro Tosti | Max McGreevy / Kevin Roy |
| 9:05 AM | 10 | Billy Horschel / Tom Hoge | Tony Finau / Max Greyserman |
| 9:18 AM | 1 | Jonathan Byrd / Chez Reavie | Alex Smalley / Hayden Springer |
| 9:18 AM | 10 | Davis Riley / Nick Hardy | Matti Schmid / Seamus Power |
| 9:31 AM | 1 | James Hahn / Kyle Stanley | Zac Blair / Patrick Fishburn |
| 9:31 AM | 10 | Camilo Villegas / Marcelo Rozo | Will Gordon / Paul Peterson |
| 9:44 AM | 1 | Frankie Capan III / Noah Goodwin | Pontus Nyholm / Jesper Svensson |
| 9:44 AM | 10 | Rasmus N-Petersen / Jacob Olesen | Christo Lamprecht / Neal Shipley |
| 12:50 PM | 1 | Luke List / Henrik Norlander | Chandler Phillips / Carson Young |
| 12:50 PM | 10 | Troy Merritt / Robert Streb | Harry Higgs / Jeremy Paul |
| 1:03 PM | 1 | Joel Dahmen / Kevin Streelman | Andrew Putnam / Austin Smotherman |
| 1:03 PM | 10 | Brice Garnett / Lee Hodges | Eric Cole / Hank Lebioda |
| 1:16 PM | 1 | Ryan Gerard / S. Yellamaraju | Matt Wallace / Marco Penge |
| 1:16 PM | 10 | Adam Svensson / Adam Hadwin | Vince Whaley / Greyson Sigg |
| 1:29 PM | 1 | Matt Fitzpatrick / Alex Fitzpatrick | Brooks Koepka / Shane Lowry |
| 1:29 PM | 10 | Garrick Higgo / Matt Kuchar | Erik van Rooyen / C. Bezuidenhout |
| 1:42 PM | 1 | Aaron Rai / Sahith Theegala | Luke Clanton / Blades Brown |
| 1:42 PM | 10 | William Mouw / Takumi Kanaya | Matt McCarty / Mac Meissner |
| 1:55 PM | 1 | Cam Davis / Geoff Ogilvy | Keith Mitchell / Brandt Snedeker |
| 1:55 PM | 10 | Adam Schenk / Tyler Duncan | Stephan Jaeger / Jackson Suber |
| 2:08 PM | 1 | Matthieu Pavon / Martin Couvra | Ryan Palmer / Chan Kim |
| 2:08 PM | 10 | Trey Mullinax / David Skinns | Scott Piercy / Taylor Montgomery |
| 2:21 PM | 1 | Nick Dunlap / Gordon Sargent | Kristoffer Reitan / Kris Ventura |
| 2:21 PM | 10 | Doug Ghim / Jeffrey Kang | Dylan Wu / Zecheng Dou |
| 2:34 PM | 1 | Haotong Li / Jordan Smith | A. Dumont de Chassart / Davis Chatfield |
| 2:34 PM | 10 | John Parry / Dan Brown | A.J. Ewart / Casey Jarvis |
| 2:47 PM | 10 | Chandler Blanchet / John VanDerLaan | Keita Nakajima / Kensei Hirata |
The opening round features several exciting pairings and notable names. Here are some key tee times (all times EDT):
- 8:00 AM (Tee 1): Austin Cook / Jason Dufner, Sam Stevens / Zach Bauchou
- 8:39 AM (Tee 1): Kevin Yu / Tom Kim, Taylor Pendrith / Mackenzie Hughes
- 8:52 AM (Tee 10): Ben Griffin / Andrew Novak, Wyndham Clark / Taylor Moore
- 9:05 AM (Tee 10): Billy Horschel / Tom Hoge, Tony Finau / Max Greyserman
- 1:29 PM (Tee 1): Matt Fitzpatrick / Alex Fitzpatrick, Brooks Koepka / Shane Lowry
- 1:42 PM (Tee 1): Aaron Rai / Sahith Theegala, Luke Clanton / Blades Brown
- 2:21 PM (Tee 10): Doug Ghim / Jeffrey Kang, Dylan Wu / Zecheng Dou
These pairings highlight a strong mix of experienced professionals and rising stars, making the opening round highly competitive.
Full Tournament Schedule (All Times Eastern)
The Zurich Classic 2026 schedule ensures fans won’t miss a moment of the action:
- April 23 (Thursday):
8:00 AM – First-round coverage begins - April 24 (Friday):
8:45 AM – Second-round coverage begins - April 25 (Saturday):
8:45 AM – Third-round coverage begins - April 26 (Sunday):
10:30 AM – Final-round coverage begins
All timings are subject to change depending on weather and course conditions.
What Makes Zurich Classic Unique?
Unlike traditional stroke-play events, the Zurich Classic emphasizes teamwork over individual performance. Players must adapt quickly between formats, communicate effectively, and trust their partner’s game.
This format often leads to unexpected outcomes, where underdog teams can outperform favorites. It also provides fans with a refreshing change from standard tournaments, adding excitement and variety to the golf season.
Final Thoughts
The Zurich Classic 2026 promises high-quality golf, strategic brilliance, and memorable moments. With a strong field, exciting tee times, and a unique team format, it’s one of the must-watch events on the PGA Tour calendar.
Whether you’re following your favorite players or enjoying the team dynamics, this tournament offers something special for every golf fan.