Zurich Classic of New Orleans: PGA Golf Odds and Predictions

Payton Matthews
Last Updated: April 23, 2019

Zurich Classic: History and Format

The Zurich Classic was struggling to draw top fields, so before the 2017 event organizers made a dramatic change. No more 72-hole stroke play like basically every other tournament on the PGA Tour. Instead, it switched to a two-man team event where the players are able to choose who they play with. It has been a hit. There are a couple of family teams this week: Brooks Koepka and brother Chase and Davis Love III with son Dru.

On Thursday, the teams play best ball, followed Friday by alternate shot, Saturday back to best ball and Sunday back to alternate shot. In alternate shot, players on a team rotate tee shots and they play just one ball. In best ball, guys play their own ball and the best score is counted. After Round 2, there’s a cut to the low 35 teams and ties. Both winners on a team get all the benefits like a two-year Tour exemption, etc. TPC Louisiana is about 15 minutes from downtown New Orleans and a par 72 measuring 7,425 yards.

Zurich Classic Betting Favourites

Aussies Jason Day and Adam Scott are the +650 favourites at Sports Interaction. Day has two Top 5s at this tournament when it was a regular format. He missed the cut in 2017 and finished 34^th last year at 9 under with playing partner Ryan Ruffels. Day and Scott are playing together for the first time in this event.

Spain’s Sergio Garcia and England’s Tommy Fleetwood are +750. Sergio missed the cut last year with countryman Rafa Cabrera Bello, while Fleetwood was tied for fourth with countryman Chris Paisley.

Americans Patrick Cantlay and Patrick Reed are +1200, with defending champions Billy Horschel and Scott Piercy at +1600. The latter team finished last year at 22 under, beating Jason Dufner and Pat Perez by a stroke. Dufner had a chance to force a playoff with a 14-foot birdie putt at No. 18 but missed. He and Perez are +5000 this time.

Canadian Golfer Odds

Corey Conners and Mackenzie Hughes are priced at +6600. They played together in 2018 and missed the cut following rounds of 65-77. Adam Hadwin is playing with Aussie Aaron Baddeley and they are +4500. Hadwin hasn’t played this tournament since it changed format. Baddeley missed the cut last year with Scott Stallings.

Nick Taylor is +10000 with Scotsman Martin Laird. The latter was T7 last year with Russell Knox. Taylor didn’t play. One Canadian won the stroke-play version of this tournament: George Knudson in 1967.