Zurich Classic Format: How the Team Competition Works

The Zurich Classic of New Orleans is the PGA Tour’s only official team event. Two-player teams compete across four rounds using a rotating format: Rounds 1 and 3 are four-ball (best ball), while Rounds 2 and 4 are foursomes (alternate shot). After 36 holes, the field is cut to the top 33 teams and ties, and the final two rounds decide the winner. Since the switch from individual stroke play in 2017, this structure has tested both individual skill and partnership chemistry in ways a standard tournament never does.

Format Rotation: Four-Ball and Foursomes

Four-Ball (Best Ball) – Rounds 1 and 3

Both players on a team play their own ball throughout the hole. The team records the lower of the two scores on each hole. If Player A makes a 3 and Player B makes a 5, the team score is 3. This format rewards aggressive play because one partner can take risks while the other plays safely. In 2022, Cameron Smith and Marc Leishman fired a first-round 59 in four-ball, making birdie on all but one hole as Smith’s hot putter covered Leishman’s occasional misses. A score of 60 or lower in four-ball is common among winning teams: Davis Riley and Nick Hardy opened with a 64 in 2023, while Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele posted a 63 in 2021.

Key stat to watch: In every Zurich Classic since 2017, the winning team has ranked in the top five for four-ball scoring average for the week. No team that finished outside the top ten in four-ball has ever won.

Foursomes (Alternate Shot) – Rounds 2 and 4

The team plays one ball, alternating shots until the hole is completed. Partners decide before the round who tees off on odd-numbered holes and who on even-numbered holes, then strictly alternate every shot after that. Player A tees off on hole 1, Player B hits the second shot, Player A hits the third, and so on. A bad shot by one partner puts the other in a difficult position with no chance to reset. In 2024, Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry won with a Sunday foursomes round of 65, showcasing how crucial trust and shot sequencing become under this format. McIlroy’s drives set up easy approaches for Lowry, while Lowry’s short game rescued a few wayward iron shots.

The order of play matters more than most fans realize. Teams that put their better driver on odd-numbered holes gain a subtle advantage because they control the opening shot on every front-nine hole. The team also has the option to change the order for the back nine, which many do if one partner’s strength aligns better with uphill or dogleg holes. Broadcast graphics show the designated tee order before each foursomes round.

Scoring and the Cut Line

The team’s total is the sum of its net score relative to par across all four rounds. After 36 holes, the field is cut to the top 33 teams plus any ties. In 2024, the cut fell at 7-under-par; in 2023 it was 8-under; in 2022 it was 6-under. Teams that miss the cut are eliminated, and no alternate teams replace them for the weekend.

What this means if you’re following along: The cut line tends to be deeper than in a typical stroke-play event because two players can cover each other’s mistakes in four-ball. A team that posts a 68 in four-ball but a 74 in foursomes is likely heading home early. The cut is made after one round of each format, so a squad that excels in foursomes but stumbles in four-ball can still survive if their alternate-shot round is strong enough. Historically, the cut line has ranged from 5-under to 9-under, with the 2020 tournament canceled due to COVID.

What Happens When Things Go Wrong

Withdrawal or Injury

If a player withdraws before the tournament starts, a replacement can be named under PGA Tour guidelines, but that replacement must already be in the field or an alternate. If a player withdraws during a round, the team is immediately disqualified for that round — the remaining player cannot continue solo. The team is out of the tournament with no option to substitute mid-event. This happened in 2022 when a team had to withdraw after one partner was injured during warm-up; the other player could not enter the round alone. In 2019, a player’s back tightened after the third hole, forcing the entire team to WD.

Disqualification After the Cut

If a team member is disqualified after making the cut, the entire team is removed from the tournament. No alternate team moves into their spot, and the field continues with fewer teams. This is a hard stop, not a provisional penalty. The rule is strict because the team format requires both players to be eligible for every shot in foursomes and to have an announced player in four-ball.

Strategic Mismatch Between Formats

The format rotation creates a genuine mismatch risk for teams that are strong in one format but weak in the other. A pair of long hitters who play aggressively might dominate four-ball but struggle in foursomes if they cannot consistently hit fairways — one errant drive puts both players in trouble. Conversely, a steady, short-game-focused team might grind out pars in alternate shot but lack the birdie firepower to keep pace in best ball. The winning team each year must be competent in both formats, not dominant in just one. In 2023, Riley and Hardy ranked inside the top 10 in both four-ball scoring and foursomes scoring for the week. In contrast, a team like Jon Rahm and Ryan Palmer in 2021 led four-ball scoring but finished 17th in foursomes, costing them the win.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the same player play all 72 holes alone if his partner is injured?

No. If one partner withdraws, the team is disqualified immediately. Both players must participate in every round.

Do teams get a handicap or stroke allowance?

No. The Zurich Classic is a professional event with all players competing from scratch. Handicaps are not used.

What happens in a tie after 72 holes?

A sudden-death playoff begins. The first playoff hole uses four-ball, the second uses foursomes, and this rotation repeats until a winner is determined. The 2018 playoff between Scott Stallings/Trey Mullinax and Jon Rahm/Ryan Palmer lasted two holes, with Rahm/Palmer winning on the second (foursomes) hole.

Has the Zurich Classic always used this team format?

No. Before 2017, it was an individual stroke-play event. The current two-player team format with alternating four-ball and foursomes started in 2017 and has remained unchanged since.

Can a team change its tee-off order between foursomes rounds?

Yes. The team can decide who tees off on odd holes for round 2 and then make a different choice for round 4. This is often used to adjust for wind direction or which player is driving better that day.

Why is the cut line deeper than a normal PGA Tour event?

Because four-ball allows teams to offset poor holes with a partner’s good score, driving the average score lower. As a result, more teams post lower totals, raising the cut line compared to an individual stroke-play tournament where every shot counts immediately.