PGA TOUR
Zurich Classic of New Orleans
Cantlay and Schauffele Claim Zurich Classic
FedExCup champion Patrick Cantlay and Olympic Gold Medalist Xander Schauffele lived up to their star billing winning the Zurich Classic of New Orleans in a stunning wire-to-wire performance. It was the first wire-to-wire victory by a pair in the event’s history.
The two friends, who have enjoyed partnerships at 2019 Presidents Cup and 2021 Ryder Cup, smashed a number of scoring records at TPC Louisiana with the event in its fifth year as a team competition. The world No. 4 and No. 12 pairing executed a tournament record 13-under 59 in Four-ball action on Thursday’s opening round. Cantlay and Schauffele added 4-under 68 in Foursome play on Friday to set a new 36-hole record at 17-under. On Saturday, the team produced a 12-under 60 in Four-ball to get to 29-under and break the 54-hole scoring mark of 23-under. At that point, the pair held a five-shot lead over Garrick Higgo and Branden Grace—it was the largest lead by pair leading into the final round. The pair carded a final round even par during Sunday’s Foursomes to finish at 29-under and eclipse the 72-hole scoring record of 27-under established by Jonas Blixt and Australia’s Cameron Smith in 2017.
The win was Cantlay’s seventh PGA Tor title and first this year after collecting four ‘Ws’ last season. The 30-year-old entered the week on the back of a playoff loss to Jordan Spieth at the RBC Heritage. Schauffele, aged 28, recorded his fifth PGA Tour title and first win on the PGA Tour since the 2019 Sentry Tournament of Champions. In the three years between his last victory in Hawaii and this week, Schauffele accumulated eight runner-up performances.
Sam Burns and Billy Horschel finished two shots back at 27-under and in solo second place. The pair improved on their fourth place finish at this event last year. Doc Redman and Sam Ryder took out third place at 24-under.
Australian pair Jason Day and Jason Scrivener began the final round in a tie for third place at 23-under and six shots off the lead. They signed for a final round 1-over 73 to fall back to a tie for 10th place.
Father and Son combination Jay Haas and Billy Haas played all four rounds and finished tied 36th. Jay holed a clutch five-foot par putt on Friday to make the 36-hole cut on the number. At 68 years, 4 months and 20 days old, Haas (Jay) broke Sam Snead’s record as the oldest player to make the cut at a PGA Tour event. It was Jay’s 592nd cut made from 799 PGA Tour starts. He first registered a cut made on tour 49 years ago at the 1973 Greater Greensboro Open with the likes of Snead, Arnold Palmer and Lee Trevino.
Defending champions Cameron Smith and Marc Leishman were unable to match their stellar performance 12 months earlier. The pair from Australia posted 65, 68, 66 and 72 to reach 17-under and finish in a tie for 21st place.
The PGA Tour moves to Vallarta Mexico, for the Mexico Open at the Greg Norman Signature Course at Vidanta. The tournament appears on the PGA Tour for the first time as an official FedExCup event.
Final Scores
Zurich Classic of New Orleans
1. Patrick Cantlay & Xander Schauffele -29
2. Sam Burns & Billy Horschel -27
3. Doc Redman & Sam Ryder -24
T4. Davis Riley & Will Zalatoris -23
T4. Keegan Bradley & Brendan Steele -23
T4. Harold Varner III & Bubba Watson -23
T4. Taylor Moore & Matthew NeSmith -23
T4. Aaron Rai & David Lipsky -23
T4. Garrick Higgo & Branden Grace -23
Photo credit: Chris Graythen/Getty Images
