In my crusade to leap out of a slump (thank you very little, Kevin Na) and shake things up, I'm adopting the KISS philosophy for the Zurich. Going back to basics to find my slot, since overanalysis only seems to work for Phil Mickelson. Sometimes.

TPC Louisiana is stretched out and allows for mistakes off the tee since the relatively flat greens provide scrambling chances for erratic drivers and weak putters. So the primary formula this week is GIR, GIR and more GIR. I want birdie putts.

And because the leaderboard the last couple of years has proven that virtually anyone can contend, recent results aren't as helpful.

It's the fourth time that the course is hosting the event, but the 2005 version was pre-Hurricane Katrina, which is the short story to say that it's been TPC Louisiana 2.0 since 2007.

Last year, it boasted a deeper field because it sat two weeks in advance of the Masters. This year, it's back to its seat two weeks after the major, evident in the thin field. To a man, it remains a shame considering what the region has endured since Katrina, but hats off to Zurich for extending its sponsorship through 2014.

The wonder now becomes where the tournament lands on the schedule in the future if Zurich wants it moved. The fortnight prior to the Masters isn't always an option due to the finite number of weeks on the calendar, and Houston has solidified its position as the Masters' prep, so it will likely stay put unless Pebble Beach is bumped into a late July-early August date (to precede the Reno-Tahoe played concurrently with the WGC-Bridgestone), which wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. Whatever happens, that the tour secured the financial giant (which just purchased the U.S. auto insurance line from AIG) in this economy is Page 1 news.

Scorecard

Zurich Classic of New Orleans
April 23-26
Tournament No. 18 of 47
TPC Louisiana [Avondale, LA]
Par 36-36=72 – 7,341 yards
Years hosted – 2005, 2007-present
Purse: $6,300,000 (Winner-$1,134,000)
Field size: 156
Cut: Top 70 & ties after 36 holes (if >78 golfers are tied, another cut of Top 70 & ties will occur after 54 holes)

The Elements
SKY: Sunshine every day
WIND: Winds will blow for most of the week; check the forecast immediately before setting your lineup
HIGH: Low 80s throughout

2008 – Course Scoring Averages (Weather)
Round 1 – 72.528 (SKY: mostly sunny ... WIND: 15-25 mph ... HIGH: upper 70s)
Round 2 – 72.153 (SKY: partly cloudy ... WIND: 6-12 mph ... HIGH: low 80s)
Round 3 – 71.325 (SKY: fog then mostly cloudy; lightning then thunderstorms suspended play at 1:48pm ... WIND: n/a ... HIGH: n/a)
Round 4 – 71.425 (SKY: fog then partly cloudy; final round completed on time ... WIND: 10-20 mph ... HIGH: 79)

In Defense
Andres Romero: Throw a dart, right? He's 118th in GIR and hasn't had a top-45 since the Northern Trust, but the layout is perfect for his loose-cannon style.
Projection: Top 10

Go For It
Steve Stricker: Forgiving off the tee and a gem to showcase his putting, TPC Louisiana was built for Stricker. He's 14th in GIR, too.
Projection: WIN

Nick Watney: The 2007 champ is having a magical year. Mentioning that he's 39th in GIR is almost an insult.
Projection: Top 5

Slideshow   The Week in Sports Pictures A kayaker flips out, a racehorse eyes the Triple Crown and more. more photos

Woody Austin: Austin is the only guy in this preview who secures screen space because of his prior results. He finished tied for fourth last year and tied for 18th in 2007. (For what it's worth, he was tied for fifth in '05.) Austin is also coming off a T-11 at Harbour Town.
Projection: Top 10

John Senden: Without above average challenges on the greens, Senden's ball-striking will shine. He's third in the stat, which includes a fifth in GIR. Senden also placed tied for 12th a year ago here.
Projection: Top 10

Michael Letzig: It's a huge stretch, I know, but you need to be aware of this guy if you aren't already. While he has just one top-35 in 2009, he's also cashed in all 10 starts. Kind of the anti-Martin Laird, who is 1-for-9 with seven straight missed cuts entering the week.
Projection: 26+