AVONDALE, La. -- Nick Watney took a two-stroke lead into the final round of the 2007 Zurich Classic of New Orleans and emerged a three-stroke winner following a Sunday 69 that gave him his first PGA TOUR title.

• Following a one-year hiatus because of the effects of Hurricane Katrina on the area, the 2007 event moved back to the TPC Louisiana, which first hosted the tournament in 2005. However, this year's event is three weeks earlier than it was a year ago.

• Watney enjoyed his best 2008 finish in the season-opening Mercedes-Benz Championship, where he tied for fifth. Two weeks ago, the 2004 Nationwide Tour graduate was in contention on the weekend at the Arnold Palmer Invitational before a final-round 73 derailed his chances. The California native is 73rd on the FedExCup points list.

• New Orleans has one of the most storied relationships with the PGA TOUR. Since first hosting a PGA TOUR event at City Park Golf Course in 1938, the list of those who have won includes World Golf Hall of Fame members Harry Cooper, Henry Picard, Jimmy Demaret, Byron Nelson, Billy Casper, Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, Ben Crenshaw, Seve Ballesteros, Tom Watson, Gary Player and Vijay Singh.

• For the third time since 2005, TPC Louisiana will play host to the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, designed by Pete Dye with assistance from PGA TOUR player consultants Steve Elkington and Louisiana native Kelly Gibson.

• Last year, the 480-yard, par-4 15th hole at TPC Louisiana was the most difficult. That week the hole yielded a stroke average of 4.244, with players recording 29 birdies vs. 129 bogeys.

• First-time winners have dominated at the Zurich Classic. Last year, Nick Watney became the third consecutive first-time winner of this event and the fifth in the past six years. Watney was the 16th player to make the Zurich Classic his first win. In 2005, Tim Petrovic won in a playoff followed by Chris Couch's victory in 2006.

• Nick Watney won three days before his 27th birthday, making him the third-youngest winner. Since 1994, just two players in their 40s have won. In 2004, Vijay Singh was the winner two months following his 41st birthday. In 1994 Ben Crenshaw won two months after his 42nd birthday.

• With runner-up finishes and a tie for sixth from 1998-2000 and a win in 2003, Steve Flesch leads the field in career money made at the Zurich Classic. Flesch has made $1,473,655. Last year's winner, Nick Watney, holds down third place in that category, with $1,194,262.

• Jim Furyk, the No. 9-ranked player in the world, will be playing in New Orleans for the first time since 1996. In the past 12 years, Furyk has won 11 PGA TOUR events, including the 2003 U.S. Open. Zach Johnson, the 2007 Masters champion, will play in this week's tournament. It will be his second appearance. Johnson missed the cut in 2006.

• LSU graduate Brian Bateman will be right at home at TPC Louisiana. The cooking and wine enthusiast will mix well with all the food cooked and served by some of the areas most renowned chefs. Bateman claimed his first PGA TOUR title last year at the Buick Open.

• Two-time U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen is making only his second career appearance at the Zurich Classic after tying for 25th in 2006. Padraig Harrington, the 2007 British Open champ, will also play this week -- for the third time in his career.

• It had been a while since Geoff Ogilvy won on the PGA TOUR, but he has a knack for doing it in big events. By winning the WGC-CA Championship, Ogilvy earned 4,725 points to move into 10th place with 5,861. Tiger Woods, who finished fifth, remains the overall leader, 5,940 points ahead of Phil Mickelson. Vijay Singh, who was tied for second behind Ogilvy, is in third, with 7,807 points.

• Greg Kraft picked up 2,250 points last week by winning the Puerto Rico Open. That win moved him to 37th place in the standings.