What is the format of the Zurich Classic? Alternate shot, four-ball explained

The Zurich Classic is the lone team event on the PGA Tour schedule but what are the rules for the tournament, for alternate shot and for four-ball rounds?

It’s the most unique week of the year on the PGA Tour with the trip to TPC Louisiana for the Zurich Classic. It’s the only team event on the PGA Tour schedule as opposed to the normal regular 72-hole stroke play events that we see most every week throughout the year.

But because it’s team golf and a different way to play an event, some golf fans might be curious as to how things actually work for this tournament, namely how the format breaks down.

Don’t worry, we’ve got everything you need to know about the Zurich Classic format and rules right here.

Zurich Classic format, explained

The Zurich Classic tries to adopt several aspects of team golf as the field is comprised of 80 teams of two that will compete in rounds featuring two different formats. The first and third rounds will be four-ball rounds while the second and fourth rounds will be alternate shot, also known as foursomes. There will be a cut for the Zurich Classic with the Top 33 teams and ties making it through to the weekend after the first two rounds.

If there were a tie after 72 holes, the playoff format would be a hole-by-hole sudden death match with the first hole being alternate shot, the second hole being four-ball, and moving through that rotation until a winner is declared.

What is foursomes or alternate shot format in golf?

Foursomes, commonly referred to as alternate shot, is one of the most difficult aspects of team golf, whether it’s stroke play or match play. The players on each team will rotate tee shots and then, as the name indicates, alternate shots until the ball is in the hole for each hole. This format requires a ton of trust in your playing partner or teammate because one bad shot means the teammate will have to hit from that spot on the next shot.

Scores are typically close to par in this format given the difficulty of it, especially in comparison to four-ball rounds.

What is four-ball format in golf?

Commonly referred to as best ball, the four-ball format is where PGA Tour pros can really take advantage and post extremely low scores. Every player on every team plays the hole like normal, from the tee to the bottom of the cup. However, the score that is counted for each team is the lowest score on every hole. So if Player A birdies the hole while Player B pars it, the team is then credited with a birdie as their score.

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