2023 Zurich Classic prop bet picks and PGA Tour predictions

Some of the top players on tour will team up this week for the 2023 Zurich Classic of New Orleans, the only team event on the PGA Tour schedule. As fun as this event is, there are still FedExCup points and prize money on the line at TPC Louisiana.

Below, we search for the best value prop bets among the 2023 Zurich Classic odds and make our PGA Tour picks and predictions.

The unquestioned top team in the field is Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele. They both rank in the top 5 of this week’s Golfweek/Sagarin rankings, with Schauffele at No. 2 and Cantlay ranked 4th. Max Homa, who’s partnered with Collin Morikawa (20th), is 7th in this week’s rankings, while Sungjae Im (9th) is teamed up with Keith Mitchell (38th).

TPC Louisiana yields some low scores despite the abundance of water hazards and bunkers that are spread throughout the course. Cantlay and Schauffele won last year with a tournament-record 29-under par (259), which included a 1st-round 59 in the fourball format. The alternate-shot record for this event is 65, which has been shot 3 times since 2019.

Zurich Classic – Top-5 picks

BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Tuesday at 12:49 p.m. ET.

Sungjae Im/Keith Mitchell (+230)

Im is a terrific partner in a format like this because he makes birdies at a high rate (12th on tour) and doesn’t miss many fairways (17th in driving accuracy). That will keep him and Mitchell out of trouble in the alternate-shot format and give them a chance to win the whole thing.

Si Woo Kim/Tom Kim (+275)

Kim and Kim beat Cantlay and Schauffele in the Presidents Cup last year, a big statement by the young duo. Both Tom and Si Woo Kim missed the cut last week at the RBC Heritage, but Tom finished T-16 at the Masters and Si Woo was 29th, so they’re playing well right now.

Collin Morikawa/Max Homa (+130)

Morikawa barely made the cut at the RBC Heritage and Homa missed it badly, but this is a perfect bounce-back week for the latter. Morikawa is consistent and accurate off the tee, even if not the longest player. And Homa has no weaknesses in his game. These 2 should zig and zag well in the best-ball format, which makes up 2 of the 4 rounds.

Zurich Classic – Top-10 picks

Sahith Theegala/Justin Suh (+150)

This is a fun pairing of two young players having strong seasons. Theegala tied for 5th last week in Hilton Head and Suh has made the cut in 6 consecutive starts. Suh has already notched 4 top-25s in 18 starts this season, as well.

J.J. Spaun/Hayden Buckley (+225)

Buckley is heating up coming into this week, finishing 10th at the Valero Texas Open and 5th at the RBC Heritage last week. Spaun has 8 top-25 finishes in 16 starts this season, so he’s had a great season as well.

Joel Dahmen/Denny McCarthy (+300)

Dahmen started the year strong with 5 top-25s but he’s failed to crack the top 40 since February. This is a good event for him, however, because he showed he can put up a low number after shooting 65 in the 1st round last week, followed by a disappointing 75. McCarthy had a good week at the RBC Heritage, finishing tied for 25th.

Zurich Classic – First-round leader

Billy Horschel/Sam Burns (+2200)

Horschel and Burns are understandably among the favorites to win this week and I like their chances to end the 1st round as the leaders. They shot 62 in Round 1 last year and 63 in the other best-ball round on Saturday, showing an ability to go low in that format.

Zurich Classic – First-round top 5

Patrick Cantlay/Xander Schauffele (+175)

It’s hard to find much value with Cantlay and Schauffele with as short as their odds are, but they have a good shot to finish the opening round in the top 5. They shot 59 in the opening round last year and 60 in the 3rd round, so they can certainly go low in best ball.

Zurich Classic – Group C winner: Matt Fitzpatrick/Alex Fitzpatrick (+400)

Let’s take a flyer with this one. Matt won the RBC Heritage last week and will now be partnered up with his brother for this event. In their group for this bet are Moore/NeSmith, Riley/Hardy, Hoge/English and Perez/Detry, who all have between +333 and +350 odds.

Give me the Fitz brothers as a long shot.

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