This tournament has been around for a long time, and been known by many different names. But there has always been one constant: New Orleans. Now called the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, the tournament was first played in 1938. With the exception of a gap in the 1940s and '50s, this event has been played ever since in the Crescent City. The tournament currently falls in the Spring part of the PGA Tour schedule, usually adjacent to the Houston Open on the schedule.
2008 Tournament
Andres Romero recorded his first PGA Tour victory with a final-round 68, finishing at 13-under 275. Peter Lonard was second. Scores
Nick Watney won for the first time on the PGA Tour, closing out a 3-stroke victory with a final-round 69. Watney's other scores during the week were 69, 67 and 68, for a 15-under 273 total. Ken Duke was runner-up.
- Overall: 262 - Chip Beck, 1988
- Tournament course record: TPC Louisiana - 64, Kyle Reifers, 2007
The tournament's current home is TPC Louisiana, one of the PGA Tour-owned TPC courses. The Zurich Classic moved to TPC Louisiana in 2005, but the event was forced off the course in 2006 due to damage from Hurricane Katrina. It returned in 2007.
The tournament's host courses in its history are:
- City Park Golf Club, New Orleans - 1938-46, 1948, 1958-62
- Lakewood Country Club, New Orleans - 1963-1988
- English Turn Golf & Country Club, New Orleans - 1989-2004, 2006
- TPC Louisiana, Avondale - 2005, 2007-present
(p-playoff; w-weather shortened)
Zurich Classic of New Orleans
2007 - Nick Watney, 273
2006 - Chris Couch, 269
2005 - Tim Petrovic-p, 275
HP Classic of New Orleans
2004 - Vijay Singh, 266
2003 - Steve Flesch-p, 267
Compaq Classic of New Orleans
2002 - K.J. Choi, 271
2001 - David Toms, 266
2000 - Carlos Franco-p, 270
1999 - Carlos Franco, 269
Freeport-McDermott Classic
1998 - Lee Westwood, 273
1997 - Brad Faxon, 272
1996 - Scott McCarron, 275
Freeport McMoRan Classic
1995 - Davis Love III-p, 274
1994 - Ben Crenshaw, 273
1993 - Mike Standly, 281
1992 - Chip Beck, 276
USF&G Classic
1991 - Ian Woosnam-p, 275
1990 - David Frost, 276
1989 - Tim Simpson, 274
1988 - Chip Beck, 262
1987 - Ben Crenshaw, 268
1986 - Calvin Peete, 269
1985 - Seve Ballesteros-w, 205
1984 - Bob Eastwood, 272
1983 - Bill Rogers, 274
1982 - Scott Hoch-w, 206
USF&G New Orleans Open
1981 - Tom Watson, 270
Greater New Orleans Open
1980 - Tom Watson, 273
First NBC New Orleans Open
1979 - Hubert Green, 273
1978 - Lon Hinkle, 271
1977 - Jim Simons, 273
1976 - Larry Ziegler, 274
1975 - Billy Casper, 271
Greater New Orleans Open Invitational
1974 - Lee Trevino, 267
1973 - Jack Nicklaus-p, 280
1972 - Gary Player, 279
1971 - Frank Beard, 276
1970 - Miller Barber-p, 278
1969 - Larry Hinson-p, 275
1968 - George Archer, 271
1967 - George Knudson, 277
1966 - Frank Beard, 276
1965 - Dick Mayer, 273
1964 - Mason Rudolph, 283
1963 - Bo Wininger, 279
1962 - Bo Wininger, 281
1961 - Doug Sanders, 272
1960 - Dow Finsterwald, 270
1959 - Bill Collins, 280
1958 - Billy Casper-p, 278
1957 - Not played
1956 - Not played
1955 - Not played
1954 - Not played
1953 - Not played
1952 - Not played
1951 - Not played
1950 - Not played
1949 - Not played
1948 - Bob Hamilton, 280
1947 - Not played
1946 - Byron Nelson, 277
1945 - Byron Nelson-p, 284
1944 - Sammy Byrd, 285
1943 - Not played
1942 - Lloyd Mangrum, 281
1941 - Henry Picard, 276
1940 - Jimmy Demaret, 286
1939 - Henry Picard, 284
1938 - Harry Cooper, 285
