New Orleans, LA – An exciting finish at TPC Louisiana Sunday afternoon as the two-man Australian team takes home the hardware for the 2021 Zurich Classic. Cameron Smith and Marc Leishman prevailed in a playoff against Charles Schwartzel and Louis Oosthiuzien as the only team winner on the PGA Tour. This event was cancelled last year due to the pandemic and it was certainly missed as a dramatic finish on Sunday was electric.
So what is the Zurich Classic format, you ask? The PGA Tour admits the top-160 players into the event who can chose their partner and team up for alternating four-ball and foursomes formats for four rounds. The first and third rounds are four-ball where every player plays their own ball and the better of the team’s two scores for each hole is recorded. The second and fourth rounds are foursomes where each team takes turns in alternate shot until the ball is holed.
The four-ball format always leads to low scores. Alternate shot is a different story, with many teams over par. The two teams remaining at the end of a stressful Sunday of alternate shot at 20-under par? Australians Marc Leishman and Cam Smith and South Africans Louis Oosthuizen and Charles Schwartzel. The Australian team managed a 2-under 70 in their final round to make it into the playoff. The South African team and 54-hole leaders carded a one-under 71, giving the Australians a window of opportunity.
The first playoff hole was the par-5 18th where both teams tied. The second trip down the 18th, Louis pushed his tee shot into the water and the team was unable to recover for a par. Cam and Marc made a five for the victory and the benefits that go along with it.
Next week, the PGA Tour heads down to Florida for the Valspar Championship at Innisbrook Resort.
Cameron Smith WITB:
Driver: Titleist TSi3 9.5 degrees, A1 SureFit (Project X HZRDUS Smoke Yellow 60 shaft)
Fairways: Titleist TSi2 15 degrees, A1 SureFit setting (UST Mamiya Elements Prototype 8F5X); Titleist TS2 21 degrees, D3 SureFit (UST Mamiya Elements Prototype 8F5X)
Irons: Titleist U500 (4), Titleist T100 Black (5-9) (True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 Black Onyx)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM8 46°, 52°, 56° and Titleist Vokey WedgeWorks 60°
Putter: Scotty Cameron 009 Prototype
Golf Ball: Titleist Pro V1
Marc Leishman WITB:
Driver: Callaway Epic Speed Triple Diamond DS 10.5 degrees (Fujikura Ventus Black 7 X)
4-wood: Callaway Epic Speed 16.5 degrees @15.5 (Fujikura Ventus Black 8 X)
Utilities: Callaway Apex UT 2016 21 and 24 degrees (Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 130 X)
Irons: Callaway Apex TCB (4-9) (Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 130 X)
Wedges: Callaway Jaws MD5 Raw 46-10S, 54-10S @54.75, and 60-08T @ 59.75 degrees (Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 130 X)
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #1 Wide S (Red Stroke Lab)
Ball: Callaway Chrome Soft X (2020)
Zack Buechner
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