The PGA Tour goes off course from the norm this week, as the only team event takes place in New Orleans at TPC Louisiana. The Zurich Classic of New Orleans is a two-player team event, with golfers playing in tandem for the win. TheSportsGeek has the latest Zurich Classic of New Orleans odds and best golf betting sites for this unique event.
Zurich Classic Details
How Does the Zurich Classic Work:
The Zurich Classic of New Orleans puts golfers together in teams for something different from the regular PGA Tour events. The tournament is a mix of four-ball golf and foursome competition between 80 teams.
Note that the first and third round of the Zurich Classic is four-ball, while the second and final round is foursome play. When it comes to the first and third rounds, each player keeps their own ball through the rounds.
They play out each hole like a normal tournament. The best score of each hole is recorded for the team. The lesser score will be disregarded and not included.
Whereas the foursome rounds, the second and fourth round, golfers alternate between shots. In other words, the first player tees off, and then the second team member plays the next shot, alternating until the hole is completed. The best 33 teams will make the cut and advance after the second round.
How are the pairings determined for the Zurich Classic, you might ask. A total of 160 players are in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Golfers from the top of the PGA Tour Priority Rankings choose their own partners. The No. 1 player receives the first choice, and so on.
Where is the Zurich Classic Played:
The Zurich Classic is scheduled just outside of New Orleans in Avondale at TPC Louisiana. TPC Louisiana, which opened in 2004, includes a total of 7,341 yards with a course par value of 72. The course consists of ten Par-4, four Par-5, and four Par-3 holes.
From heartbreak to overhauled ?
After Hurricane Ida caused significant damage across @TPCLouisiana last fall, the agronomy team at the course got underway with an incredible restoration effort.
(Presented by @ZurichNA) pic.twitter.com/qc32285qSf
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 19, 2022
Zurich Classic of New Orleans Odds
Now that we know how the Zurich Classic works and where the Zurich Classic is played, let’s shift our attention to the Zurich Classic of New Orleans odds. The top of the Zurich Classic doesn’t come as a surprise.
The favorite is a stacked team consisting of Viktor Hovland and Collin Morikawa. Hovland is the No. 4 ranked player in the world, while Morikawa is a couple of spots ahead of him at No. 2. Morikawa has been a letdown in recent weeks, so I wouldn’t say he’s in the second-best form right this minute.
The team of Patrick Cantlay-Xander Schaufele and Ryan Palmer-Scottie Scheffler are particularly interesting. This is a case of two golfers in great form at the moment, Cantlay and Scheffler, who may be depended on to carry the weight.
In four-ball play, these two teams should flourish, with the best score trumping the other team member. However, Schaufele and Palmer must help out and step up in the foursome event.
| Odds | Golfer | Country |
|---|---|---|
| +800 | Hovland/Morikawa | Norway/USA |
| +900 | Cantlay/Schauffele | USA/USA |
| +1000 | Leishman/Smith | Australia/Australia |
| +1200 | Palmer/Scheffler | USA/USA |
| +1200 | Burns/Horschel | USA/USA |
| +1800 | Fleetwood/Garcia | England/Spain |
| +2000 | Gooch/Homa | USA/USA |
| +2200 | Niemann/Pereira | Chile/Chile |
| +2500 | Riley/Zalatoris | USA/USA |
| +2500 | Varner III/Watson | USA/USA |
| +2800 | Bradley/Steele | USA/USA |
| +3300 | An/Im | South Korea/South Korea |
| +3300 | Hatton/Willett | England/England |
| +4000 | Hadwin/Svensson | Canada/Canada |
Zurich Classic Best Odds To Win
Viktor Hovland/Collin Morikawa (+800)
The highest-ranked team in the Zurich Classic, with the potential to be the best, has to be Viktor Hovland and Collin Morikawa. Both players are ranked in the top-5 globally, with Morikawa only trailing Scottie Sheffler in the PGA Rankings, while Hovland is No. 4 going into New Orleans.
Morikawa has been expected to finish better recently concerning his betting odds, but there hasn’t been anything wrong with his game. He finished 5th at the Masters with a final score of -4. In the Genesis Open, Morikawa finished T2 with a score of -17.
However, Morikawa got out of form and didn’t respond until the Masters. He was cut from The Players and a disappointing T68 at the Valspar Championship. Morikawa shot a respectable -7 for T26 in the RBC Heritage.
Hovland was steady and consistent, finishing in the top-5 in four of six tournaments. However, he was T33 at the Valspar Championship and then T27 at the Masters. Hovland can easily be the best player in this tournament if he can find his previous form.
When Hovland and Morikawa are at the top of their game, they are the best players in this tournament. However, which version of these two is going to show up in New Orleans?
Marc Leishman/Cameron Smith (+1000)
My game plan for selecting a winning team for the Zurich Classic is circling the teams that have the best potential to thrive in the fourth and final round of the tournament. Marc Leishman and Cameron Smith have the potential to be this team.
The Aussie duo should be in the mix with a chance to strike on Sunday. Despite flaming out of the Masters and missing the cut, Smith was in consistent and good form leading up to the tournament.
He has finished in the top-3 in three of his previous six outings and top-5 in four of his last seven attempts. Going back to October, Smith has been in the top-10 in five tournaments, including two wins.
Smith won the Sentry Tournament and won the big one at The Players Championship, the most lucrative purse in golf. After finding it tough in Georgia, expect Smith to bounce back well.
Leishman is the wildcard, but he has the potential to be good. He has three top-10 finishes in the 2022 season in 12 events. Leishman has an average score of 69.5 going into Thursday.
It could have been a better Masters for Leishman, but he did make the cut and finished T30. This is another team worth having on your shortlist and selecting to win the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
2022 Zurich Classic Prediction
Sam Burns/Billy Horschel (+1200)
In a field where one player typically carries the weight of the team, Sam Burns and Billy Horschel are a well-balanced unit.
Burns was a disappointment in the Masters at Augusta National two weeks ago. However, that’s a course that tends to favor experienced players.
It was his first trip around Augusta National on the PGA Tour and he struggled to stay in form. He was playing great golf leading up to the Masters.
Burns was coming off a win in the Valspar Championship before the Masters. He finished in the top-10 in 9 of 11 tournaments before the Masters, including two wins.
Horschel is capable of a consistent tournament in New Orleans as well. He has finished at least in the top-21 in five of his last seven outings and top-11 in three.
Look for Burns and Horschel to do well in foursome play on the final day of competition. At +1200, it should definitely be worth considering this team to win the Zurich Classic.
