Played for the first time as a two-man teams event in 2017, this tournament is something of a breath of fresh air amidst the weekly 72 hole strokeplay diet of the world’s biggest circuit.

The most recent format offering an exciting concept that sees players not only under general tournament pressure, but also that of their teammate relying on their play. The event offering insights at potential matchups and player suitability for representative events like this year’s Presidents Cup.

The International team, to be led by Trevor Immelman, certainly value the concept for its insights, hosting a team dinner already this week, while the walk up music for teams allows a small window into the personalities of players. And even costumes as was the case for Aussie duo Marc Leishman and Cam Smith last year.

DEFENDING CHAMPIONS: They may have been denied their chance to pair up at the Presidents Cup in 2019 at Royal Melbourne, but great mates Marc Leishman and Cam Smith proved they are a deadly duo last year when winning here.

RIGHT: Aussie pair Cam Smith and Marc Leishman pose with the trophy while wearing their championship belts in 2022. PHOTO: Stacy Revere/Getty Images.

Having teamed up in 2018 for the World Cup at Metropolitan, Smith and Leishman combined brilliantly throughout the week to finish 20-under-par before defeating South African pair Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel in a play-off.

Collecting more than US$1 million each for the week’s work, Smith and Leishman are exceptionally close friends, the Victorian event took the mickey out of his mulleted mate when entering in a wig during the event.

COURSE: There is water everywhere at TPC Louisiana located right in the middle of New Orleans, but the course still yields plenty of scoring opportunities for the best players in the world, especially during the fourball rounds on day one and two.

Opened in 2004, the par-72 was designed by renowned course architect Pete Dye in consultation with Steve Elkington and Kelly Gibson and has played host to this event since 2006 and stretches out to 7,425 yards.

Bunkers are all over the Dye design, the par-5 18th hole featuring plenty of sand and water and the site of many tournament deciding moments in the past, including last year when Oosthuizen found the water off the tee in sudden death.

Water and bunkers are not the only hazards at TPC Louisiana. PHOTO: Chris Graythen/Getty Images.

PRIZEMONEY: US$8,300,000

FORMAT: 80 teams of two players will tee it up this week, with fourball play on Thursday and Saturday seeing both members of each team playing their own ball and the best score recorded. Meanwhile, Friday and Sunday is foursomes play, the pairs playing one ball in an alternate shot format. The top 33 teams (including ties) make the weekend.

RELATED: So-called expert golf tips for this week

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Simply can’t go past Cam Smith & Marc Leishman at the top of this list.

Last year’s winners love playing golf together and both have shown good form this season, with Smith one of the best performers in world golf in 2022.

Leishman was a solid T30 in his last start at The Masters, but the burly Victorian seems to find another gear when playing with his little mate, who got close to getting an arm in the green jacket at Augusta on the final day and of course won The Players Championship earlier in the year.

The pair’s games are perfectly compliment each other, plus a laid back attitude suits down to the ground here. The key for them this week will be Leishman’s play from the tee, while Smith’s wedge game is a tremendous asset in both formats used here. The Queenslander also a winner in this with Jonas Blixt back in 2017.

The only other all-Aussie pair here this week, Jason Day & Jason Scrivener share a management group, but also games that should work well towards the desired ‘Ham & Egg’ needs of team golf.

One of the best putters in recent history when on, Day will likely have plenty of birdie looks on the back of Scrivener’s iron play during foursomes, while the former World No.1’s experience here is an asset.

The pairing of Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay are experienced as a combination and a team to watch this week. PHOTO: Patrick Smith/Getty Images.

Scottie Scheffler & Ryan Palmer is the latest pairing where the latter has hitch his wagon to one of the best players in the game at this event.

Palmer has previously played with Jon Rahm and Jordan Spieth here, winning in 2019 with the Spaniard, while Scheffler is fresh of a major win where he confirmed himself as the best player in the men’s game at present.

Scheffler’s form in 2022 has been exemplary and Palmer is a nice pairing offering straight driving and top level putting.

Expect a ball striking clinic form Viktor Hovland & Collin Morikawa two of the rising stars in the game.

Both considered among the best iron players in golf, the key for this pair will be on and around the greens where both have had their struggles in the past, and team golf is won and lost.

Another of the power pairings are good friends Xander Schauffele & Patrick Cantlay.

Combining last year for a share of 11th this is another team with ball striking prowess, they are also very familiar with each other’s game and were part of the dominant Ryder Cup team at Whistling Straits.

A potential outside pair comes in the form of Ian Poulter & Shane Lowry this week.

The European Ryder Cup teammates will have plenty of fun and laughs in New Orleans, while Lowry has been in very good form of late without quite getting over the line so far in 2022.

Still chasing a first win in America, Lowry has finished outside the top-25 once so far this year from nine starts and was T3 at the RBC Heritage and Masters over the previous fortnight, while Poulter’s credentials in team golf are widely known and the Englishman showed some good signs last week at Harbour Town before a disappointing final round.

72-HOLE RECORD: 261 (Cam Smith & Jonas Blixt and Kevin Kisner & Scott Brown, 2017). *Blixt and Smith won in a play-off.

PAST AUSSIE WINNERS: Marc Leishman & Cam Smith 2022 and Cameron Smith & Jonas Blixt 2017).

AUSTRALIANS IN THE FIELD: Jason Day & Jason Scrivener, Marc Leishman & Cam Smith, Cameron Percy (with Brandon Hagy), Brett Drewitt (with Dawie Van Der Walt) and Lucas Herbert (with Arjun Atwal).

TV TIMES*

Round 1: Friday (Fox Sports 503 LIVE 5:30am – 8:30am)
Round 2: Saturday (Fox Sports 503 LIVE 5:30am – 8:30am)
Round 3: Sunday (Fox Sports 503 LIVE 3am – 8am)
Round 4: Monday (Fox Sports 503 LIVE 3am – 8am)

*AEST, check local guides