The Zurich Classic uses a two-man team format with best ball and alternate shot, not a scramble. That setup can produce eye-popping scores, reward hot stretches, and create unusual stakes, including tour-card opportunities for some players.
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The Zurich Classic of New Orleans stands apart from the rest of the PGA Tour schedule. It is the only official tour event that uses an 80-team, two-man, 72-hole stroke play format, with rounds alternating between four-ball, or best ball, and foursomes, or alternate shot. That structure is a big reason the scoring can look so extreme when a team gets rolling.
In four-ball, each player plays his own ball and the better score on each hole counts for the team. In alternate shot, the two players take turns hitting the same ball. It is not a scramble, where everyone hits and the team chooses the best shot each time. The distinction matters, because the Zurich Classic can produce very low totals without turning into a casual charity-style format.
That was part of the point after a team posted a 57 in best ball, which was described as the lowest round in that format at the event. The number drew attention because it looked almost impossible, but the tournament has used this setup for years, and elite players can go extremely low when both partners are sharp at the same time. A 65 in alternate shot the day before showed the same thing from a different angle: in this format, momentum can swing quickly, and a team can stay in contention even when one round is more difficult than another.
The format also changes how fans judge the leaderboard. A team can start the day in front, slide back as other groups post early scores, and then surge again by the end. That is normal in a field this large, especially when the event is being tracked over a long broadcast window. It can feel chaotic, but it is still legitimate scoring, not some gimmick that should be dismissed outright.
Some critics argue that the event is a waste of time or too far removed from standard stroke play. Others see it as a welcome break from the usual week-to-week structure. The truth is that the Zurich Classic is meant to be different. It adds variety to a tour schedule that is otherwise built around individual play, and it gives viewers a chance to watch players handle pressure in a team setting.
That team element is part of the appeal. Siblings playing together add an obvious storyline, and the event has a way of turning that into something memorable. When one brother is in top form, the other can benefit in a very real way. In this case, a strong week could help one player earn or secure status, while his partner is already established enough to carry the load when needed. That kind of shared opportunity is rare in professional golf.
The stakes can be personal as well as professional. For one player, a win could mean a tour card. For another, it could mean recovering a card lost by a narrow margin the year before. Those details make the event more than a novelty. Even if the format is unusual, the rewards are real.
There is also a broader argument for more team golf on the PGA Tour. Many fans want more match play and more variety, not less. The current schedule leans heavily on standard stroke play, and the Zurich Classic offers something different without leaving the professional game behind. It is not a scramble, it is not a charity outing, and it is not a joke. It is a legitimate event with a distinct format and real consequences.
That said, the format can be confusing to casual viewers. Best ball and scramble are often mixed up, even though they are not synonyms. In best ball, each player plays his own shot throughout the hole. In a scramble, the team advances from the best position after each shot. The Zurich Classic uses the former, not the latter, and that is why the scoring still deserves respect.
The event also highlights how quickly golf can change from one day to the next. A player can be on a heater, then go ice cold, then catch fire again on the very next hole. That unpredictability is part of what makes the team format fun. One partner can keep the team alive while the other is struggling, and then the roles can reverse almost immediately. It creates a different kind of tension from solo stroke play.
For all the complaints about the setup, the Zurich Classic has its own identity now. It is not trying to be the Masters or the U.S. Open. It is trying to be a team event that fits into the tour calendar and gives top players a chance to compete in a different way. That is enough for many viewers, especially when the scores are low, the pressure is real, and the finish is close.
In the end, the Zurich Classic format explains both the skepticism and the excitement. The numbers can look absurd. The scoring can seem unfair until the structure is understood. But once the difference between best ball and scramble is clear, the event makes more sense. It is a rare week when two-player chemistry, alternate-shot discipline, and hot putting can matter as much as raw individual brilliance. That is why the low scores happen, and why the tournament keeps its place on the schedule.
