The champions of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans will not hail from Chile. This much we know.
That’s because the Chilean team of Joaquin Niemann and Mito Pereira withdrew from the two-man team event prior to the start of the second round at TPC Louisiana. Pereira, the reigning Korn Ferry Tour Player of the Year, was unable to play citing a back injury.
Niemann and Pereira opened with a best ball score of 5-under 67 in the opening round, and were scheduled to tee off at 9:18 a.m. local time in the second round, which is being contested in alternate shot format.
Pereira, 27, was making his 17th start of the season and had made five cuts in his last six starts. His best result this season is a third-place finish at the Fortinet Championship, his lone top 10. Niemann, 23, won the Genesis Invitational in February. The two Chilean natives grew up playing together in Santiago, share the same coach, and are longtime friends.
The team of Joaquin Niemann and Mito Pereira withdrew from the Zurich Classic of New Orleans prior to the start of round two, due to a Pereira back injury.
— PGA TOUR Communications (@PGATOURComms) April 22, 2022
