Blixt and Smith win Zurich Classic of New Orleans
The pair came through a Monday playoff against Kevin Kisner and Scott Brown
Jonas Blixt of Sweden and Australia’s Cameron Smith came through a Monday playoff against Kevin Kisner and Scott Brown to win the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
Kevin Kisner chipped in for eagle on the 72nd hole of regulation play in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans to push he and partner Scott Brown into a tie with Jonas Blixt and Cameron Smith and force a Monday playoff.
When the four players returned to decide the fate of the 2017 Zurich Classic of New Orleans, being played with a new-look pairs format, it took four holes for Blixt and Smith to come out on top.
On the first extra hole – the 18th at TPC Louisiana – all four had a chance of birdie on the par-5 but none were able to convert. Four pars were recorded the next time down and then four more when they moved across to the par-3 9th. On their third trip down the 18th, the fourth extra hole, Smith played a great shot into the green and was left with a two-foot putt for birdie. After the other three missed their birdie chances, the 23-year-old Australian was left to roll the ball home and claim his first PGA Tour victory.
3 Talking points from the Zurich Classic of New Orleans
1 – This was a first PGA Tour victory for Cameron Smith and a third for Jonas Blixt. It’s been a great season for Smith who has made 12 of 15 cuts and secured two top-10 finishes. It had been a less impressive year to this point from Blixt; the Swede had missed seven cuts and only secured one top-20 placing.
2 – Kevin Kisner secured his sixth runner’s up placing in the last three seasons. The South Carolinian has lost all four of the playoffs he’s contested on the PGA Tour.
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3 – Brothers Brooks and Chase Koepka finished in a tie for fifth, they shot a 62 on Sunday. “It was a good experience. I feel like I have a little bit to improve on if I want to be out here week-in and week-out with these guys,” said Chase who was playing as a non PGA Tour member. “I really played well the first 50 holes of the golf tournament. Today was a little bit of a struggle, but luckily Brooks played fantastic for the last 12 holes.”
Zurich Classic of New Orleans TPC Louisiana, Avondale, Louisiana April 27 – May 1 Purse: $6,200,000 Par: 72
1 Jonas Blixt (Swe) 67 62 68 64 261 Cameron Smith (Aus) 2 Kevin Kisner (USA) 70 64 67 60 261 Scott Brown (USA) 3 Kelly Kraft (USA) 71 63 70 61 265 Kevin Tway (USA) 4 Jordan Spieth (USA) 66 66 70 64 266 Ryan Palmer (USA) T5 Jason Dufner (USA) 69 64 73 63 269 Patton Kizzire (USA) T5 Brooks Koepka (USA) 69 65 73 62 269 Chase Koepka (USA) T5 Bubba Watson (USA) 73 64 68 64 269 J.B. Holmes (USA) T5 Angel Cabrera (Arg) 70 63 71 65 269 Julian Etulain (Arg) T5 Justin Thomas (USA) 70 64 74 61 269 Bud Cauley (USA) T5 Charley Hoffman (USA) 67 65 69 68 269 Nick Watney (USA)
Note: Player name in bold signifies Titleist ball usage
Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He has also worked with Golf Monthly to produce a podcast series. Called 18 Majors: The Golf History Show it offers new and in-depth perspectives on some of the most important moments in golf's long history. You can find all the details about it here.
He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly.
Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?
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