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See tee times and groupings<\/a> and keep tabs on all the numbers posted Friday on the 2026 Zurich Classic of New Orleans leaderboard<\/a>.<\/p>\n Alex Smalley, Hayden Springer set pace with 58 at Zurich Classic<\/p>\n The first round of the\u00a0Zurich Classic<\/a> turned into exactly what players expected, and exactly what the format invites. With warm temperatures and bright sunshine in the morning, TPC Louisiana was there for the taking. By the time the afternoon wave wrapped, a steady, swirling breeze blew into the area, adding just enough uncertainty to keep things interesting, but not enough difficulty to slow the scoring pace. As evening descended in the bayou, Alex Smalley and Hayden Springer topped the leaderboard<\/a> with a tournament record-tying 14-under 58.<\/p>\n Need a news break? Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 David Dusek<\/p>\n Where to watch, stream the 2026 Zurich Classic of New OrleansSecond round, Friday, April 24Smalley, Springer lead Zurich Classic after opening 58<\/p>\n The fourth, sixth, ninth, 12th and 14th. It is easier to note which holes Alex Smalley and Hayden Springer\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0birdie or eagle than it is to go through all the circles on their scorecard from Thursday\u2019s opening round. The people here in Cajun country love their spicy food, but this duo set TPC Louisiana ablaze with 12 birdies and an eagle on the second hole en route to a 14-under 58 and the early lead.<\/p>\n \u2014 David Dusek<\/p>\n Glut of signature events, majors is killing events like Zurich<\/p>\n This week\u2019s\u00a0Zurich Classic<\/a> comes on the heels of the Masters and RBC Heritage, a signature event, and will be followed by two more signatures with limited fields of 72 \u2014 the newly created Cadillac Championship and the Truist Championship \u2014 and then another major, the PGA Championship. One event is not like the others and that is the Zurich, which has a glorified Korn Ferry Tour field<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u2014 Adam Schupak<\/p>\n Zurich Classic golf finds its niche on the PGA Tour<\/p>\n The Zurich Classic sits in a difficult stretch of the schedule, wedged between the Masters and\u00a0RBC\u00a0Heritage and, this year, followed by two signature events and the\u00a0PGA\u00a0Championship. Talking about the date, tournament director Steve Worthy doesn\u2019t mince words.<\/p>\n \u201cFive out of six is tough,\u201d he said of the six-week run. \u201cWill there be a big-name player that plays all six? I don\u2019t think so. Somebody\u2019s going to skip one somewhere.\u201d<\/p>\n The tournament understands its place on the calendar. It also understands its identity.<\/p>\n \u2014 David Dusek<\/p>\n Zurich Classic payout, purse: How much does each team get?<\/p>\n The total purse for the 2026 Zurich Classic is $9.5 million. The winners of the Zurich Classic each receives $1,372,750 million.<\/p>\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1777041880_203_89721313007-getty-images-1392590544.jpg\")