Golf is usually a lonely sport. You against the course. You against the wind. But then you look at the Zurich New Orleans leaderboard, and everything looks a bit... different.
Honestly, the Zurich Classic of New Orleans is the one week where the PGA Tour stops being a grind and starts feeling like a party. It’s the only team event on the regular schedule. Forget individual stats for a second. We’re talking pairs, alternate shots, and the kind of pressure that comes when you don’t want to let your best friend down.
What Really Happened with the 2025 Leaderboard
If you followed the action at TPC Louisiana this past April, you saw something pretty cool. Andrew Novak and Ben Griffin basically stole the show. They didn't just win; they secured their first-ever PGA Tour titles. Together.
Entering the week, neither guy had a trophy in the cabinet. By Sunday evening, they were sitting at the top of the Zurich New Orleans leaderboard at 28-under par. That’s 260 strokes total. They barely edged out the Højgaard twins—Nicolai and Rasmus—who finished just one shot back at 27-under.
Imagine that. Twins playing together, nearly taking the whole thing. The "Great Danes" made a massive charge, but Griffin’s birdie on the 17th hole was the dagger. It’s those small moments that make or break a leaderboard in New Orleans.
The Top Finishers (2025)
- 1. Ben Griffin / Andrew Novak: -28
- 2. Nicolai Højgaard / Rasmus Højgaard: -27
- 3. Jake Knapp / Frankie Capan III: -26
- T4. Four teams tied at -25: Including Luke List/Henrik Norlander and the young guns Karl Vilips/Michael Thorbjornsen.
Jake Knapp and Frankie Capan III were right there, too. They actually tied for the lead at one point on the back nine. Then the 17th hole happened. Capan found the water on that par-3. Season over. Well, tournament over, anyway. It just goes to show how quickly things shift at TPC Louisiana.
Understanding the Format (It’s Kinda Complicated)
The leaderboard looks weird because the scoring changes every day. You can't just look at the raw numbers and know who played well. You've gotta know the format.
Thursday and Saturday are Four-ball (Best Ball). This is where the low scores happen. Both players play their own ball, and you just count the best score on each hole. Basically, if one guy messes up, the other guy can save them. That’s why you see teams shooting 61s and 62s.
Friday and Sunday? That’s the real test. Foursomes (Alternate Shot).
One ball. You hit, then your partner hits. This is where friendships go to die. Or where the best teams separate themselves. It’s much harder to find a rhythm. Novak and Griffin stayed steady here, and that’s why they won. They didn't beat themselves when the format got tough.
Why Some Big Names Faded
Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry came in as the defending champs. People expected a repeat. But the Zurich New Orleans leaderboard is a fickle beast. They finished T12 at 22-under.
Not bad, right? But in this event, 22-under is like finishing middle of the pack. They had a roaring start—64 on Thursday—but they couldn't keep the momentum during the alternate shot rounds. McIlroy’s Masters hangover might have been a factor, or maybe the humidity just got to 'em. Either way, they were never really in the hunt on Sunday.
Then you have guys like Collin Morikawa and Kurt Kitayama. They didn't even make the cut. Neither did Sahith Theegala and Akshay Bhatia. When the cut line is 8-under or 9-under, there’s zero room for error. You have to be aggressive from the jump.
Looking Ahead to 2026
Mark your calendars for April 23–26, 2026.
The tournament is staying at TPC Louisiana in Avondale. Pete Dye designed this course, so expect plenty of water and those signature bunkers that make pros look like amateurs. The purse is expected to be around $9.5 million, with each winner pocketing over $1.3 million.
Wait. The best part? The winners get a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour. For a guy like Andrew Novak, that’s life-changing. It’s not just about the money; it’s about the job security.
2026 Schedule Breakdown
- Monday/Wednesday: Pro-Ams.
- Thursday: Round 1 (Best Ball).
- Friday: Round 2 (Alternate Shot) – The Cut happens here.
- Saturday: Round 3 (Best Ball).
- Sunday: Final Round (Alternate Shot).
Actionable Tips for Following the Leaderboard
If you're betting or just playing fantasy golf for the Zurich, stop looking at individual world rankings. They don't matter as much here.
Look for chemistry. Pairs who have played together in the Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup usually crush it. Look at Cantlay and Schauffele a few years back. They were a machine because they knew each other's games inside out.
Focus on the "Scrambler." In alternate shot, you need one guy who can get out of trouble. If your partner puts you in the woods, you need to be the guy who can still save par.
Check the weather. New Orleans in April can be a swamp. Wind picks up off the Mississippi River, and the afternoon humidity makes the ball fly differently. Teams that play early on Thursday often have a huge advantage if the wind kicks up later.
The Zurich New Orleans leaderboard tells a story of partnerships. It’s about who trusts their buddy enough to let them take the difficult shot. Keep an eye on the rookies in 2026; as Novak and Griffin showed us, this is the perfect place for a breakthrough.
To get the most out of the next tournament, track the "Alternate Shot" scoring specifically. Teams that stay under par on Friday and Sunday are almost always the ones holding the trophy. Focus on those mid-tier pairs who have long-standing friendships—they often outperform the "super-teams" put together at the last minute.
