Zurich Classic of New Orleans First Round Produces Record-Tying Score Amid PGA Tour Structural Changes
Introduction
The 2026 Zurich Classic of New Orleans, the PGA Tour''s only team event, started its first round on Thursday at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, Louisiana. The tournament has 74 two-man teams competing in a four-ball (best ball) format for the first and third rounds, with foursomes (alternate shot) for the second and fourth rounds. At the same time, the PGA Tour announced job cuts and schedule changes as part of a larger organizational restructuring.
Main Body
The first round ended with Alex Smalley and Hayden Springer recording a 14-under-par 58, tying the tournament record. Their round included 12 birdies and an eagle on the second hole. The pair started with a birdie-eagle-birdie sequence, and Springer added birdies on holes 15 through 18. They hold a one-stroke lead over Davis Thompson and Austin Eckroat, who recorded a 13-under 59, including a 10-under stretch over nine holes. Eckroat eagled the par-5 seventh, and the duo birdied each of the next eight holes. Tied for third at 12-under are the teams of Sam Stevens/Zach Bauchou, Nick Dunlap/Gordon Sargent, and Eric Cole/Hank Lebioda. Billy Horschel and Tom Hoge are among a large group at 11-under 61. The pairing of Brooks Koepka and Shane Lowry finished at 6-under 66, placing them outside the top 50. The scoring pace was helped by warm morning temperatures and bright sunshine, with a steady afternoon breeze adding only a little difficulty. The top 33 teams and ties will advance after 36 holes. The tournament has a difficult position on the PGA Tour calendar, sitting between the Masters and RBC Heritage and before two signature events (the Cadillac Championship and Truist Championship) and the PGA Championship. Tournament director Steve Worthy described the six-week period as ''tough'' and noted that it is unlikely any top player will compete in all six events. One commentator criticized the Zurich Classic''s field, saying it looked like a ''glorified Korn Ferry Tour'' lineup, in contrast to the limited-field signature events. The total prize money is $9.5 million, with each winning team member receiving $1,372,750. The event has been held at TPC Louisiana since 2005 and became a team competition in the 2016–17 season. Separately, the PGA Tour laid off 56 full-time employees (about 4% of its workforce) and will leave 73 vacant positions unfilled, while planning to invest again in 30 or more new full-time roles. These actions, reported by Sports Business Journal, follow the Tour''s change to a for-profit model after private equity partner Strategic Sports Group invested $1.5 billion in 2024. CEO Brian Rolapp, who took the role in June 2025, called the job cuts a ''difficult – but important – step'' in an internal message. Commissioner Jay Monahan remains on the PGA Tour Policy Board and PGA Tour Enterprises Board through 2026. Rolapp has proposed a reorganized tournament schedule with a top tier of 21–26 events (including majors, The Players Championship, and FedEx Cup playoffs) and a second level for player promotion. The Tour also announced it will not return to Hawaii in 2027, ending a traditional two-week season-opening swing.
Conclusion
The Zurich Classic''s first round produced a record-tying score, with Smalley and Springer leading a tightly bunched leaderboard. The event continues amid broader organizational changes at the PGA Tour, including job cuts and a revised tournament structure aimed at concentrating top player participation. The second round, featuring foursomes play, is scheduled for Friday.