NEW ORLEANS, LA (March 27, 2018)—Ryder Cup captain Jim Furyk and David Duval—both winners of major titles—have teamed to play in the 2018 Zurich Classic of New Orleans, announced Steve Worthy, CEO of the Fore!Kids Foundation, producer of the tournament.

“We are honored and excited to have Jim Furyk join our field this year,” said Worthy. “Our format ties to the big international team matches, and having the current Ryder Cup captain playing here indicates how important our new format is becoming to prep for those events,” added Worthy.

“We are also pleased to welcome back David Duval, former world #1 who played in our tournament for many years,” said Worthy. “David has always been very popular in New Orleans and he’s indicated this has always been one of his favorite tournament stops,” Worthy said.

Furyk has won 17 times on the PGA TOUR, including the 2003 U.S. Open and the 2010 TOUR Championship. He currently ranks fourth in all-time earnings, with nearly $68 million since he joined the TOUR in 1994.

He and Duval have played as a team before, when they won the Feed Meyer Challenge in 1998.

He has played a limited schedule this season but took a seventh in the Valspar Championship. He last played the Zurich Classic in 1996, when he finished tied for 27th.

Furyk has been a mainstay for years on American national teams, with seven appearances in the Presidents Cup and nine in the Ryder Cup. His nine Ryder Cup competitions are second all-time among American players.

Until last season, Furyk qualified for every FedExCup playoff series since the competition began.

Duval, now primarily a broadcaster on the Golf Channel, claimed 13 PGA TOUR victories, including The Open Championship in 2001 and the TOUR Championship in 1997. He was ranked number one in the world for 15 weeks in 1999.

His father Bob played on the Champions Tour, and both father and son won their respective tournaments on the same day in 1999. 

Duval’s last appearance in the Zurich Classic came in 2014, when he finished a season-best 25th.

He is also a veteran of team play, with four Ryder Cups, three Presidents Cups, two World Cups, two World Amateur Team Championships and one Walker Cup.

At Georgia Tech, Duval was named 1993 Collegiate Player of the Year. He is one of only four collegiate players to earn Division I first team All-American status four times. He also won the U.S. Junior Amateur in 1989.

The Zurich Classic is the only team tournament on the PGA TOUR season.  This year’s 72-hole stroke team play format will feature Four-Ball (best ball) during the first and third rounds and Foursomes (alternate shot) during the second and fourth rounds. The starting field will consist of 80 teams. Following the conclusion of the second round, the field will be cut to the low 35 teams and ties. In case of a tie after 72 holes, there will be a sudden-death playoff using the Four-Ball format.

About Fore!Kids Foundation:
Since 1958, the Fore!Kids Foundation has raised money to fund children's service organizations through golf events like the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, the Taste of the Tournament gala and several charitable golf tournaments. As a 501(c)(3) corporation, Fore!Kids has helped to raise more than $34 million to date for children’s charities in metro New Orleans and Baton Rouge. More information at www.forekidsfoundation.com.

About the Zurich Classic of New Orleans:
Televised in more than 224 countries and territories, the Zurich Classic of New Orleans generates a significant economic impact on the city of New Orleans and the entire state of Louisiana. Independent research has shown that the tournament generates spending of more than $40 million within the local economy and garners $33 million in positive national and international media exposure for both the city and state throughout the year beyond the four days of competition.

The tournament will be played April 23-29, 2018 at TPC Louisiana in Westwego. Purse for 2018 totals $7.2 million, with each member of the winning team earning $1,036,800.

Single-day grounds tickets are only $35 and weekly passes are $85. Single day tickets for the two most popular hospitality venues on the PGA TOUR start at $85 for Acme Oyster House and $185 for The Champions Club.  Other choices of suite and specialty venue options are available by calling the Tournament Office at 504-342-3000 or online at www.zurichgolfclassic.com.

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Media Contact: 
Tim Long 
504-669-3030
tom@thomaslong.net