The Zurich Classic of New Orleans will feature an exciting new two-man team format with two rounds of Foursome and Four-Ball competition.
Jason Day and teammate Rickie Fowler headline the betting field that also includes Olympic medalists Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson. Jordan Spieth is playing with Ryan Palmer and South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen and Branden Grace are paired up.
Other duos to keep your eye on are Daniel Berger and Thomas Pieters, Bubba Watson and J.B. Holmes, Patrick Reed and Patrick Cantlay and the brother tandem of Brooks and Chase Koepka.
The new 72-hole stroke play format will feature Foursomes during the first and third rounds and Four-Ball during the second and fourth rounds. The starting field will consist of 80 teams. Each of the top available players from the PGA TOUR Priority Rankings, who commits to the tournament, will choose his partner, who in turn must have PGA TOUR status unless he is chosen as a tournament sponsor exemption.
A cut will be made to the low 35 teams and ties following the second round. In case of a tie after 72 holes, there will be a sudden-death playoff using the Four-Ball format.
Pretty cool, indeed, and full FedEx Cup points and official money. Both winners will receive the two-year exemption.
TV Coverage: Thursday-Friday, 3:30-6:30 p.m. ET – Golf Channel. Saturday-Sunday, 1-2:30 p.m. Golf Channel, 3-6 p.m. – CBS.
Zurich Classic of New Orleans Odds to Win
Jason Day / Rickie Fowler +500
Justin Rose / Henrik Stenson +600
Ryan Palmer / Jordan Spieth +900
Daniel Berger / Thomas Pieters +1250
Branden Grace / Louis Oosthuizen +1425
J.B. Holmes / Bubba Watson +1800
Bud Cauley / Justin Thomas +2000
Kevin Chappell / Gary Woodland +2250
Hideki Matsuyama / Hideto Tanihara +2650
Patrick Reed / Patrick Cantlay +3000
Charley Hoffman / Nick Watney +3300
Keegan Bradley / Brendan Steele +3550
Luke Donald / Jamie Lovemark +3800
Byeong Hun An / Seung-yul Noh +3999
Tony Finau / Daniel Summerhays +4050
Blaine Barber / Russell Henley +4400
Tyrrell Hatton / Jamie Donaldson +4650
Russell Knox / Kevin Streelman +5000
Scott Brown / Kevin Kisner +5250
Harris English / Hudson Swafford +5500
Robert Garrigus / William McGirt +5750
Jerry Kelly / Steve Stricker +6050
Brooks Koepka / Chase Koepka +7000
Jason Dufner / Patton Kizzire +7250
Patrick Rodgers / Cameron Tringale +7500
Graeme DeLaet / David Hearn +7777
Wesley Bryan / Ryan Blaum +8000
Sung Kang / Si Woo Kim +8500
Geoff Ogilvy / Ian Poulter +9000
Lucas Glover / Chez Reavie +9300
Fabian Gomez / Jhonattan Vegas +10000
Ollie Schniederjans / Rob Werenski +10500
Smylie Kaufman / Harold Varner III +9999
Danny Lee / David Lingmerth +12500
FIELD – Any other team +475
(Odds courtesy BookMaker.eu)
Contenders
Jordan Spieth / Ryan Palmer +900
This team was a late addition and it’s shaping up nicely. Spieth is one of the top 5 players in the world and Palmer’s game is heading in the right direction after he was in contention last week in San Antonio before settling for a T6.
Value
Tony Finau / Daniel Summerhays +4050
This Utah connection should gel well together and know each other’s games well often times playing practice rounds together. Summerhays’ calming influence on the younger Finau will go a long ways this week in the Big Easy. Finau was in contention last week at the Valero Texas Open before finishing T3.
Winner
Daniel Berger / Thomas Pieters +1250
This is a deadly combination and if they’re on, watch out! Pieters is one of the longest hitters on the planet and Berger thrives putting on bermuda greens. The key for them will be to limit their mistakes in the alternate shot format. They have never partnered up, but on paper and for the price of +1250, I’m rolling with this combo, this week in the Big Easy.
Bust
J.B. Holmes / Bubba Watson +1800
Both players have seen better days. Watson is struggling in all aspects of his game and if you watch his body language, he doesn’t exert any confidence and almost looks like he doesn’t want to be there. Holmes is also scuffling through the year. This duo will miss the cut. Easy money to FADE this tandem.Â
Check out all the latest Zurich Golf Classic pick winner and matchup odds.
