Teamwork makes the dream work in the Big Easy.
That’s the hope for the pros pairing up this week as the PGA Tour heads to the Crescent City for the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
In the unique event, 80 two-person teams will compete in the four-round, 72-hole best-ball and alternate-shot formatted tournament.
Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele won last year, going wire-to-wire and shooting a record 29-under on the par-72, 7,425-yard TPC Louisiana course. The close friends are favorites again this year, as both are ranked in the top five of the Official World Golf Rankings.
Fresh off his RBC Heritage win, U.S. Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick will team up with his brother, Alex, who made his PGA Tour debut last year at the Valspar Championship. The Fitzpatrick brothers’ odds are +3600 to win, according to FanDuel.
Also, John Daly and David Duval will be partners in the Big Easy event. The PGA Tour Champions golfers are +85000 or 850-1 to win.
The format for the Zurich Classic is four-ball (or best ball) in Thursday’s first round, followed by alternate shot in Friday’s second round. Then, the field of 80 teams will be cut to the top 33 and ties, heading into Saturday’s best-ball round. Sunday’s final round will be alternate shot.
FrontPageBets takes a look at the golfers to watch as the Zurich Classic of New Orleans tees off.
(All odds courtesy of FanDuel and are subject to change)
Pick to win: Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele +290
The highest rated duo competing this week in New Orleans, Cantlay is ranked No. 4 in the world with Schauffele right behind him at No. 5.
Not only did the pair set a tournament record last year, they are also doing pretty well on their own this season on the PGA Tour.
In 10 events, Cantlay has scored eight top-25s and five top-10 finishes, including runner-up at the Shriners Children’s Open and two third-place finishes at The Genesis Invitational and the RBC Heritage last week.
Schauffele has made 11 starts and hasn’t missed a cut, recording eight top-25s and six top-10s. He finished fourth last week at Harbour Town.
Top-5 Pick: Collin Morikawa and Max Homa +185
Collin Morikawa and Max Homa will be teaming up for the first time this week in NOLA.
Morikawa is a two-time major champion (PGA Championship 2020 and U.S. Open 2021) and currently ranked No. 13 in the OWGR.
So far this season in 12 starts, Morikawa has four top-5 finishes, including solo second at the Sentry Tournament of Champions in January and solo third at the Farmers Insurance Open.
Homa, ranked No. 7 in the world, already has two wins this season (Fortinet Championship and Farmers Insurance Open), as well as a solo second at The Genesis Invitational. In 12 starts, he’s recorded six top-10 finishes and only missed one cut – which was last week at the RBC Heritage.
Top-10 Pick: Si Woo Kim and Tom Kim +160
The pairing of Si Woo Kim and Tom Kim is the only team in the field made up of individual winners on Tour this season.
S.W. Kim, ranked 40th in the OWGR, won the Sony Open in Hawaii in January and has six top-25s in 15 starts this season.
Tom Kim, ranked 19th in the world, won the Shriners Children’s Open in October and also has six top-25s in 13 starts this season.
Odds-on favorites to win the Zurich Classic of New Orleans
Collin Morikawa/Max Homa +750
Sungjae Im/Keith Mitchell +950
Billy Horschel/Sam Burns +1300
Si Woo Kim/Tom Kim +1500
Sahith Theegala/Justin Suh +2100
Wyndham Clark/Beau Hossler +2500
J.J. Spaun/Hayden Buckley +3200
Adam Hadwin/Nick Taylor +3600
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Mike Szvetitz is the General Manager and Content Director for FrontPageBets.com. Szvetitz is a 23-year veteran reporter and editor, including serving 17 years as a sports editor in Florida, Alabama and Virginia, covering everything from preps to pros. His "View From The Lazy Boy" column won multiple state and national awards. He can be reached at mszvetitz@timesdispatch.com.
