Zurich Classic Odds, Predictions & Best Bets
The PGA Tour mixes things up this week in Louisiana for the team competition at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. 80 teams of two golfers will vie for the title playing two different formats. Last year, Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele set a tournament record score of 29-under-par.
For Thursday and Saturday rounds, it will be the four-ball (best ball) format with both golfers playing their own ball throughout the hole, and them selecting whoever did better for their score. On Friday and Sunday rounds, it’ll be foursomes (known more commonly as alternate shot), which is much more difficult to score well on.
The best 33 teams and ties after the second round will continue forward with the remaining duos missing the cut.
2023 Zurich Classic Of New Orleans Odds
Fresh off his second career PGA Tour victory at the RBC Heritage, Matt Fitzpatrick teams up with his brother Alex in New Orleans. Defending champions Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele have short odds to go back-to-back at +400.
Odds as of April 17th at DraftKings Sportsbook.
Burns/Horschel A Formidable Duo
The duo of Sam Burns and Billy Horschel have played very well at this tournament in the past. Back when it was an individual event, Horschel won it in 2013. Then in 2018, he paired with Scott Piercy to win the championship. He’s come close to doing it again, as he and Sam Burns have gone T-4th in 2021 and runner-up last year at the Zurich.
Burns also picked up his first victory on the season just three starts ago at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play. Despite Horschel not playing up to his standards lately, he’s so good at this track. Getting the duo at +1800 odds, which is longer than the top-four squads on the board, is very enticing.
Past Five Zurich Classic Champions
There was no 2020 tournament due to COVID-19.
- Harris English/Tom Hoge (+3000): Recently, both Harris English and Tom Hoge have had very high finishes in big time golf tournaments. First it was English at Bay Hill, where he ended up in a tie for second. Then it was Tom Hoge, who shot a course record 10-under, 62 at TPC Sawgrass to finish T-3rd at the Players Championship.
- Hayden Buckley/J.J. Spaun (+3500): Hayden Buckley came oh-so close to his first win at the Sony Open earlier this season. After a bit of a lull, he’s found his game, with a T-10 at the Valero and a T-5 at Harbour Town in his last start. In those eight rounds, he’s third in ball striking. J.J. Spaun, who won Valero last year, has eight top-25’s on the campaign.
- Taylor Moore/Matthew NeSmith (+4000): This pair had a strong 2022 Zurich, where they wound up in a fourth place tie. Moore won for the first time on tour just three starts ago at the Valspar and had a top-15 at last week’s RBC Heritage. He’s sixth in total strokes gained the last twelve rounds.
