For one week out of the PGA Tour season players will deviate from the normal individual stroke play events and team with a partner in the unique format used at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. The only full-field team event has 80 two-player teams alternating between best ball and alternate shot formats at TPC Louisiana. With less than half the field advancing to the weekend, a fast start is required to play the weekend, and the team format adds a layer of intrigue to the betting markets. Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele opened with a tournament record 59 in four-ball last year going wire-to-wire to win by two swings. They’re betting favorites in the outright market to defend the title and a massive favorite in tournament matchups. Visit BookMaker.eu for a complete list of matchups and betting odds when you’re ready to place a wager.
Zurich Classic of New Orleans Matchup Odds
Cantlay/Schauffele -200 vs. Homa/Morikawa +165
Im/Mitchell -125 vs. Kim/Kim +105
Burns/Horschel -110 vs. Suh/Theegala -110
Clark/Hossler -110 vs. Kitayama/Montgomery -110
Buckley/Spaun -138 vs. Dahmen/McCarthy +115
English/Hoge -110 vs. Hardy/Riley -110
Hadwin/Taylor -127 vs. Moore/NeSmith +106
Kizzire/Todd +115 vs. Fitzpatrick/Fitzpatrick -138
Redman/Ryder +110 vs. Lipsky/Rai -132
Hodges/Shelton -138 vs. Hadley/Martin +115
Bramlett/Wu +100 vs. Detry/Perez -120
Hojgaard/Olesen -138 vs. Palmer/Piercy +115
Gerard/Griffin -144 vs. Lower/Wu +120
Mullinax/Stallings -110 vs. Gordon/Thompson -110
Hickok/Ghim +106 vs. Duncan/Lebioda -127
Bhatia/Hall -150 vs. Garnett/Sigg +125
List/Norlander -127 vs. Daffue/Van Rooyen +106
Donald/Molinari +120 vs. Johnson/Stricker -144
Shinkwin/Wallace -132 vs. Tarren/Taylor +110
Gligic/Pendrith -110 vs. McGreevy/Stevens -110
Higgs/Smotherman -120 vs. Cole/Saunders +100
Kraft/Tway +100 vs. Baddeley/Endycott -120
Armour/Herman -128 vs. Byrd/Haas +107
Kim/Noh -144 vs. Gribble/Haley II +120
Gomez/Nunez +100 vs. Goya/Werbylo -120
Need to Know
This will be the sixth playing of the tournament using the team format. Several pairings return from previous events, including last year’s winners and the runner-up team of Billy Horschel and Sam Burns. Does that give them an edge this week? Hard to say, but it can’t hurt. Located just a few miles outside New Orleans, TPC Louisiana is a very scoreable par 72 that stretches to 7,425 yards. Tee to green the layout is relatively easy for pros with a high percentage of fairways and greens hit in regulation. The Cantlay/Schauffele team set a tournament record at 29-under last year with two previous winning teams scoring 26-under or better. When the course became the permanent home of the Zurich Classic in 2007, an additional 100 sand traps and numerous water hazards were added around the property to make the layout a bit more challenging.
Zurich Classic of New Orleans Matchup Picks
English/Hoge -110 vs. Hardy/Riley
It’s been a long road back for English, who underwent hip surgery about a year ago and missed a few months. Results since his return have wavered, but he’s back playing a lot of golf and that’s a good sign. He finished as co-runner-up last month at the API, two starts after a T12 at the Genesis, signifying his game is coming around. Hoge is a fixture in New Orleans with decent results and he won the QBE Shootout, which uses a similar format, back in December.
Fitzpatrick/Fitzpatrick -138 vs. Kizzire/Todd
Backing players at such a high price isn’t my normal routine, but this event isn’t your normal tournament. Having to rely on your partner to make his share of shots isn’t easy when you play solo nearly all year, so a brotherly connection can close the gap. Matt Fitzpatrick is also in a zone after his win at Harbour Town last week. And while Alex is still a newbie on Tour he showed he can play with a couple top 25 finishes in the PGA Tour Canada last year.
Im/Mitchell -125 vs. Kim/Kim
If you can’t crack through on your own why not team with someone dealing with similar experiences. Im continues to play solid golf going 14 for 15 with 10 top 25s this season. He had two top 10s and a T16 in his last three starts. He also swung for a top 15 here last year. Consistency plays well at TPC Louisiana and Im is as consistent as they get. Mitchell is no slouch either missing only three cuts this season and her partnered with Brandt Snedeker for a T4 on this lot two years ago.
Burns/Horschel -110 vs. Suh/Theegala
I wavered on this matchup and wasn’t going to include it in this section but my options are limited. And besides, two of the best teams going head to head makes for some excitement. I went with Burns/Horschel based on their past results here, which were pretty good. The pair made it close last year finishing tied for the second lowest score in tournament history. Unfortunately the winning duo of Cantlay/Schauffele set the record. The two had instant chemistry going for a top 5 in 2021 playing as a team for the first time.
Kitayama/Montgomery -110 vs. Clark/Hossler
Former Runnin’ Rebels teammates are back at it with UNLV alums Kurt Kitayama and Taylor Montgomery hooking up. Kitayama made a splash on Tour a few weeks ago with his win at the API displaying ice water in his veins on the final few holes. Though not as hot as he was earlier in the season, Montgomery remains as a front runner for Rookie of the Year with his impressive play.
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