Zurich Classic of New Orleans preview
Welcome to the swamp.
The PGA Tour descends on TPC Louisiana in New Orleans this weekend, bringing with it a handful of the world's best golfers and plenty of opportunities for low scoring.
Defending champion Billy Horschel looks to repeat last year's performance, where he posted a score of 20-under par to walk away with the trophy.
Sitting two weeks after the Masters and one week after the well-attended RBC Heritage, the field of 150 features just nine of the top-50 ranked golfers in the world, leaving the door open for someone to climb significantly in the FedEx Cup standings.
Justin Rose - ranked 11th in the world - is the highest seed in the tournament and is still looking for his first win of the season after a pair of top-10 finishes through seven starts. The reigning U.S. Open champion has dealt with a shoulder injury, and a strong performance could go along way in steadying his place in the standings.
Patrick Reed, the self-proclaimed top-5 player in the world, has the most FedEx Cup points of anyone in the field (he sits fourth, appropriately). The 23-year old can hold off another week of jokes in his direction if he secures his third win of the season.
Matt Every, sitting ninth in the FedEx standings, has enjoyed a breakout season. At 30, Every won his first career tournament at the Arnold Palmer Invitational earlier this season, and has rattled off five top-10 finishes through 13 starts.
Another player worth watching this week will be Ernie Els. Els has struggled in his last six starts, but finished 15th last year at TPC Louisiana and lost in a playoff here in 2012. He's worth mentioning if for no other reason than the joy of saying "Big Easy" is playing in the Big Easy.
The hottest player coming into New Orleans is Rickie Fowler. He's rolling along, coming off a fifth place finish at Augusta and sixth place finish the week before at the Shell Houston Open. Fowler took 10th at this tournament in 2012, beginning a run of four straight strong events that included a win at the Wells Fargo Championship the following week and a pair of top-5 finishes.
With a reputation for low scores and the Players Championship looming two weeks away, a field full of players with ground to make up in the standings are staring at a wide open opportunity to make their mark.