Tour Confidential: U.S. Ryder Cup captain, PGA Tour payouts, Zurich format
After the United States ended their winless streak against Europe at the Ryder Cup, eyes now turn to Rome in 2023 with five U.S. players in the top eight of the world rankings. With a change to The Open qualifying, 18 places are now reserved for the leading qualifier tournaments to reduce the number of amateurs who played more matches than pros in the U.K. at Sandwich last year. Plus, there will be a reduction from 44 to 32 for the Zurich Classic in order to change the usual tournament from 80 regular players and 20 pro-am teams–to 80 teams of two, and also to avoid the “amateur hour” denigration.
U.S. Ryder Cup Captaincy Unveiled
****
Zach Johnson was unveiled as the next U.S. Ryder Cup captain on Tuesday, taking over from Steve Stricker who led the Americans to a record-breaking victory at Whistling Straits last year.
Johnson, a two-time major champion, will lead the U.S. team into next year’s matches against Europe at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Rome, Italy.
He will be assisted by a vice-captaincy team that includes Davis Love III, Keegan Bradley, Steve Stricker, Phil Mickelson, and Jim Furyk.
“These players — Davis, Keegan, Steve, Phil and Jim — not only bring incredible playing experience to the team but also possess the leadership, camaraderie and enthusiasm that will contribute to our success in Rome next year.” Johnson said.
Johnson, 46, has been a member of four previous U.S. Ryder Cup teams, including the victorious 2016 side at Hazeltine National. He was also an assistant captain under Stricker last year.
The 2023 Ryder Cup will be played from September 25-27 at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Italy. The United States will be looking to retain the trophy they won at Whistling Straits in 2021.
PGA Tour Prize Money Allocations Analyzed
****
The PGA Tour has released its prize money allocations for the 2023 season, and there are some significant changes from previous years. One of the most notable changes is the increase in prize money for the top finishers in each tournament.
Here is a breakdown of the prize money allocations for the 2023 PGA Tour season:
The total purse for each tournament will be $20 million, with the winner receiving $3.6 million. The runner-up will receive $2.16 million, and the third-place finisher will receive $1.56 million. The top 10 finishers will all receive at least $1 million, and the top 25 finishers will all receive at least $500,000.
The changes to the prize money allocations are designed to reward the top finishers in each tournament and to make the PGA Tour more competitive. The increase in prize money for the top finishers should help to attract the best players in the world to the PGA Tour, and it should also make the tournaments more exciting for fans to watch.
Zurich Classic Pro-Am Format Innovations Dissected
The Zurich Classic of New Orleans has been a PGA Tour fixture since 1938, but it wasn’t until 2018 that the event underwent a major format change. That year, the tournament became a team event, with players competing in pairs for a share of the $7.2 million purse.
The format change was met with mixed reviews, but it has since become a popular event on the PGA Tour schedule. In 2023, the Zurich Classic will once again be played in a team format, with 80 two-man teams competing for a share of the $8.3 million purse.
One of the most unique aspects of the Zurich Classic is the alternate-shot format that is used during the first and third rounds. In this format, each player hits a tee shot, then the team chooses which shot they want to play. The players then alternate shots until the ball is holed.
The alternate-shot format can be challenging, but it can also be very rewarding. In 2022, the team of Jon Rahm and Ryan Palmer won the Zurich Classic by two strokes. Rahm and Palmer played well together, and they were able to take advantage of the alternate-shot format.
No results for “GOLF COURSE STRATEGY” found in provided context
