Latest News About Zurich Classic Format

Here’s the latest overview of the Zurich Classic format as of 2025–2026:

• Format overview

  • The Zurich Classic of New Orleans is PGA Tour’s only team event. Teams play alternating rounds of four-ball (best ball) and foursomes (alternate shot). The first and third rounds are four-ball, and the second and final rounds are foursomes. This format creates two contrasting styles across the event, testing both individual shot-making and team coordination.[3]
  • In case of a tie after the final round, a sudden-death playoff is used, with play evolving between foursomes and four-ball depending on the playoff structure set for that year.[3]

• Event structure and field

  • The event typically features a large field of two-player teams drawn from PGA Tour players, with pairings sometimes highlighted by notable partnerships or Presidents/Continental Cup connections; the format requires both players to be actively competing for the pair to contend.[3]
  • A cut is usually applied after the second round, with the low 33 teams and ties advancing to the weekend rounds. The weekend then proceeds with alternating formats as described above.[3]

• Viewing and coverage

  • The event has historically had dedicated TV windows and streaming coverage, with Golf Channel and CBS providing round-by-round coverage depending on the day and round, plus live score updates and tee times on PGA Tour media pages.[4][10]

• Notable historical notes

  • The event’s team format has produced memorable pairings and dramatic finishes, including playoff deciders in past years when teams were tied after the final round, often emphasizing the unique dynamic of four-ball vs. foursomes in determining the winner.[5][3]

Illustration: The two-format cycle (four-ball then foursomes) typically unfolds as:

• Round 1: Four-ball – each player plays own ball; lower team score per hole.
• Round 2: Foursomes – alternate-shot with the same ball.
• Round 3: Four-ball again.
• Round 4: Foursomes again with playoff if needed.

If you’d like, I can pull the very latest official PGA Tour notes or a current-year wrap-up and summarize any changes to the playoff rules, prize money, or field composition for 2026. I can also build a quick visual diagram of the format cycle or a short chart comparing expected scoring patterns between four-ball and foursomes. Would you like me to do that?

Citations:

• Zurich Classic format and playoff details.[3]
• Historical coverage and format explanations.[4][5]
• Round-by-round structure and viewing guidance.[10]