Zurich Classic Recap: Stuard Breaks Long Winless Streak

At least there was some good to emerge from the dreadful Zurich Classic of New Orleans, the tournament that couldn't end, and then wouldn't end.

• Brian Stuard, who had never won on the PGA Tour, won.

• Bobby Wyatt, a University of Alabama alum who had never played a professional tournament in the United States and was ranked 1,198th in the world, finished fourth.

• And the dozen or so alligators that live at TPC Louisiana, including Tripod, the famed three-legged gator, were as happy as pigs in …

With rain plaguing the tournament since Thursday morning, delaying the first round, the second round and the third round before forcing cancellation of the fourth round, the alligators were about the only ones enjoying themselves.

In the end, Stuard probably had even a better time than Tripod and his friends. Ranked No. 513 in the world and winless in 119 career events, the journeyman who lost his Tour card last year, defeated Jamie Lovemark on the second playoff hole, after European star Byeong-Hun An was eliminated on the first extra hole.

Stuard, with two previous runner-up showings, in 2010 and 2014, had been limited to six events this season. Now, he has a two-year exemption, and he'll be in the The Players Championship in two weeks, the Tournament of Champions next January and, of course, the 2017 Masters.

Yes, it was only 54 holes – er, 56 – but Stuard was brilliant. He didn't bogey a hole all week and was 44-for-44 on putts from inside 10 feet.

It was only the fourth PGA tournament in the past 10 years reduced to 54 holes and, curiously enough, the other three were won by the same guy: Dustin Johnson, who won in 2009 at Pebble Beach, the 2011 Barclays and in 2013 at Kapalua. For someone who makes so many knucklehead moves on the golf course, especially on Sundays, this makes a lot of sense.

All three of those wins came in 54-hole "regulation." The last tournament reduced to 54 holes that was extended to a playoff was the 2005 Bell South Classic, won by Phil Mickelson in a five-man scramble.

MONDAY TAKEAWAY

Jamie Lovemark
Lovemark played great all week and had the lead much of the back nine. He had a 10-footer for birdie on the par-5 18th to win but left it just short, dead center. Still, it continues a terrific season for Lovemark, who now has five top-10s. His maiden victory appears to be not too far off.

Ben An
An is the reigning European Tour Rookie of the Year and just beginning to become known to U.S. golf fans. This was his best ever finish on the PGA Tour, and he's forecast to move into the top-25 in the world rankings. So plan to see more of the Korean in the majors and WGCs. An is only 24, so victories in the big events may take time, although he already has a Euro victory and still is the youngest U.S. Amateur winner ever, from back in 2009.

Bobby Wyatt
Wyatt played at Alabama with Justin Thomas, who was rooting hard for his former teammate.

Never cheered for anything/anybody harder than I am for @Bobby_Wyatt this morning in NOLA.. Let's go BW!

— Justin Thomas (@JustinThomas34) May 2, 2016

That'll do @Bobby_Wyatt! Pumped to hang with BW this week in Charlotte #bamagolfhttps://t.co/u1GIzRaK6o

— Justin Thomas (@JustinThomas34) May 2, 2016

Wyatt, whose previous start was in something called Eye of Africa PGA Championship on the Sunshine Tour, actually had the lead before bogeys on 14 and 15. Still, he made a ton of cash and, as Thomas tweeted, will be in the field this week at Wells Fargo.

Harold Varner III
It's been a rocky rookie season for Varner, but now two of his three top-10s have come in the past two weeks: T9 at the Valero Texas Open and now T8 at New Orleans. Yes, the fields have not been very strong, but quality finishes build confidence, and it will be interesting to see how Varner proceeds from here, beginning this week at Quail Hollow.

Spencer Levin
After a decent fall season, the new year had brought only disappointment for Levin, who had only one top-25 in the first four months of 2016. But he notched a T15 at Avondale, meaning he has improved his past three outings, from T45 at RBC Heritage to T29 at the Texas Open to now. Levin is also in the field this coming week.

Joe Affrunti
We've chronicled the odyssey that has been Affrunti's PGA Tour career many times. It began in 2004, but, since he had played in 21 career events entering this season, he's still classified as a rookie! He tied for 20th at the Zurich, the best finish of his long (short?) PGA Tour career. Affrunti is still playing out of the Reshuffle category on a major medical. Coming in, he had three tournaments left to earn $568,234. While he probably won't get there, he cashed $64,909 on Monday.

Andrew Loupe
We've been drinking the Loupe Kool-Aid, like many gamers, for much of the season. No more. Well inside the cutline heading to the back nine of Round 2, Loupe came home in 40, with bogeys on three of his final five holes to miss the cut. He has natural gifts, hitting the ball a ton off the tee with a deft putting touch. But he's a fade in our books until showing otherwise.

Smylie Kaufman
We had a feeling there might be a hangover from the Bermuda Brocation. While Rickie Fowler--the other golfer of the foursome to take a well-chronicled vacation who was in the field this week--tied for 20th, Kaufman shot 68-81 to get some more time off sooner than anticipated. Thomas and Jordan Spieth were the other two vacationers, and neither was in the New Orleans field.

Jim Furyk
After a seven-month layoff with wrist surgery, Furyk returns this week at Quail Hollow. He began his hiatus at No. 7 in the world but has fallen to only 24th. Pretty remarkable. It's dicey to jump on the Furyk bandwagon this week, but he wanted a tuneup before The Players next week. And that's also a tough field to expect Furyk to do well in.