After Defending champion Bubba Watson’s win at the Masters, Zurich Classic features four of the top 10 in the world



NEW ORLEANS - The Zurich Classic of New Orleans field this year is shaping up as a showcase of the strength and depth on the PGA TOUR, said Steve Worthy, CEO of the Fore!Kids Foundation, producer of the tournament.

“Of course, our defending champion Bubba Watson certainly is the leading light in our star-filled field, but we also have 29 winner of regular TOUR events over the past two years, in addition to the winners of the last two majors in Keegan Bradley, 2011 PGA Champion and Bubba in last week’s Masters,” he added.

Highlights and the list of prominent players in the 2012 Zurich Classic field include:

· 2 of the top 4 players in Official World Gold Rankings (Luke Donald & Bubba Watson)

· The highest rated American player (Watson)

· 4 of the top 10 in world golf rankings (Donald, Watson, Steve Stricker and Justin Rose)

· 6 of the top 20 (Graeme McDowell at 15 and Keegan Bradley at 20)

· 9 more players in the top 50 (Nick Watney, 22; Peter Hanson, 24; KJ Choi, 26; John Senden, 29; Jason Dufner, 32; David Toms, 34; Rickie Fowler, 39; Ben Crane, 48 and Kyle Stanley, 50)

· 29 winners of regular PGA TOUR events last two years

· Last two winners of majors (Keegan Bradley, 2011 PGA Championship and Bubba Watson, 2012 Masters)

· Defending Players championship winner (KJ Choi)

· 4 winners of World Golf Championships

· 3 U.S. Open winners

The list of notable players includes:



Winner - PGA/U.S. Open Championship:

Bradley, Keegan

Glover, Lucas

McDowell, Graeme

Winner - The Players Championship:

Choi, K.J.

Winner - The Masters:

Watson, Bubba

Winner - World Golf Championship Event:

Donald, Luke

Els, Ernie

Rose, Justin

Watney, Nick

Tournament Winner/Past 2 Years:

Ames, Stephen

Appleby, Stuart

Atwal, Arjun

Beckman, Cameron

Bettencourt, Matt

Bohn, Jason

Bradley, Michael

Crane, Ben

Frazar, Harrison

Garrigus, Robert

Gay, Brian

Hoffman, Charley

Huh, John

Jacobson, Fredrik

Kirk, Chris

Lamely, Derek

Leonard, Justin

Lunde, Bill

McNeill, George

Molder, Bryce

Palmer, Ryan

Pettersson, Carl

Piercy, Scott

Points, D.A.

Slocum, Heath

Stanley, Kyle

Stricker, Steve

Toms, David

Villegas, Camilo



Past Champion of Respective Event:

Kelly, Jerry

Romero, Andres

Top 30 on Prior Years FedEx Cup Points:

Reavie, Chez

Senden, John

Howell III, Charles

Dufner, Jason

Top 125 on Prior Year's Official Money:

Levin, Spencer

Gainey, Tommy

Fowler, Rickie

Karlsson, Robert

Jobe, Brandt

Holmes, J.B.

Rollins, John

Blanks, Kris

Walker, Jimmy

Tringale, Cameron

Davis, Brian

Streelman, Kevin

Perez, Pat

Overton, Jeff

de Jonge, Brendon

Adams, Blake Stroud, Chris

Haas, Hunter

Imada, Ryuji

Barnes, Ricky

Matteson, Troy

Baird, Briny

O'Hern, Nick

Thompson, Michael

Couch, Chris

Herron, Tim

Henry, J.J.

Hearn, David

Chalmers, Greg

Gillis, Tom

Mayfair, Billy

Teater, Josh

Stadler, Kevin

DiMarco, Chris

Driscoll, James

Ogilvie, Joe

Mathis, David

Merrick, John

Kang, Sunghoon

Pernice Jr., Tom

Pampling, Rod

Trahan, D.J.

Top 125 (Prior Year Nonmember):

Bud Cauley

About Fore!Kids Foundation:

Since 1958, the Fore!Kids Foundation has raised money to fund children's service organizations through golf events like the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, the Golf Ball Gala, an AJGA event, a kids' summer junior tour, and several charitable golf tournaments. As a 501(c)(3) corporation, Fore!Kids has helped to raise more than $20 million to date for children’s charities in metro New Orleans and Baton Rouge. More information at www.forekidsfoundation.com.



About the Zurich Classic of New Orleans:

Televised in more than 116 countries, the Zurich Classic of New Orleans generates a significant economic impact on the city of New Orleans and the entire state of Louisiana. Independent research has shown that the tournament generates spending of more than $30 million within the local economy and garners $17 million in positive national and international media exposure for both the city and state throughout the year beyond the four days of competition.

Purse for 2012 totals $6.4 million. The winner’s share is $1,152,000. Single-day grounds tickets are only $25 each and weekly passes are $75, available by calling the Tournament Office at 504-342-3000 or online at www.zurichgolfclassic.com.