The PGA Tour heads back to New Orleans this week. The Zurich Classic carries the same name as before and it will be played on the same course as in the past too but that is where the similarities end.
I say that because for the first time since 1981 a PGA Tour event is playing played in pairs. 80 pairs of players will battle it out over two rounds of foursomes (rounds one and three) and two rounds of fourballs (rounds two and four) for this illustrious title.
Recent Winners (Singles event)
2016 – Brian Stuard
2015 – Justin Rose
2014 – Seung-yul Noh
2013 – Billy Horschel
2012 – Jason Dufner
2011 – Bubba Watson
2010 – Jason Bohn
2009 – Jerry Kelly
2008 – Andres Romero
2007 – Nick Watney
The Course
TPC Louisiana is the venue for the tournament once again. The par 72 course which can go out to 7,425 yards. Generally speaking there isn’t too much in the way of difficulty off the tee on this course but going into the greens and on the greens is where the men and the boys are separated around here.
There is another factor to add in this week. The forecast is for the wind to really pick up over the weekend so maybe the second set of fourballs won’t be as low scoring as usual. Three of the four par threes are odd numbered holes so look for teams with good iron players to take advantage of them.
The Field
Although this is a more quirky event than before the quality of the field hasn’t diminished any. If anything it has got stronger which is good to see. Jason Day, Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler, Hideki Matsuyama and Henrik Stenson are all in the field as are many others in the world’s top 30.
There are also some former champions from the singles event here teeing up. They include last year’s winner Brian Stuard, Bubba Watson, Billy Horschel, Jerry Kelly and Jason Dufner so we should get to see some good golf this week.
Market Leaders
Jason Day and Rickie Fowler go into the week as the 6/1 favourites to land the title. If they gel as a pairing then world ranking wise they are rivalled by only one pair and that is Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson who are half a point bigger at 13/2.
Jordan Spieth and Ryan Palmer are an interesting pairing put together after a bet between the two and they are 10/1 with the huge hitting pairing of Daniel Berger and Thomas Pieters 14/1 shots. Branden Grace and Louis Oosthuizen are 16/1 pokes and it is 20/1 bar.
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Main Bets
My first main bet in this tournament is a fairly obvious pick. It is the South African pairing of Branden Grace and Louis Oosthuizen. These two combined to excellent effect in the Presidents Cup a couple of years ago and their games blend naturally. I have a feeling familiarity will be an important thing this week and having had the experience of partnering each other I fancy they will be deep in the mix over the four days.
I’m also going to take the Japanese pair of Hideki Matsuyama and Hideto Tanihara who should also dovetail nicely. Matsuyama’s tee to green game is up there with anything in the world right now and Tanihara showed at the Matchplay that he can get the ball in the hole so they could really make hay especially in the tougher foursomes format. Tanihara has played enough in the US recently to be settled so they should go very well.
Outsiders
I’m not convinced this is a tournament to go too mad on betting wise but I am going to take a couple of outsiders. In terms of tee to green specialists there aren’t going to be many better teams than Jason Dufner and Patton Kizzire and the putting of the latter combined with the ball striking of the former should make them a pairing who can pick up shots regularly especially with Dufner a previous winner here. At 60/1 they look worthy of a punt.
Two of the best tee to green players on the PGA Tour combine for a pairing in Lucas Glover and Chez Reavie and if they can find some putts in the better ball format then the chances they are going to give themselves could make them outside contenders too. There aren’t many pairs I would take who struggle with the putter but when you have two players ranked first and eighth in proximity to the hole they are going to get loads of chances. It is worth paying to see how many they convert.
Tips
Back B.Grace & L.Oosthuizen to win Zurich Classic of New Orleans (e/w) for a 2/10 stake at 17.00 with Betfred (1/4 1-5)
Back them here:
Back H.Matsuyama & H.Tanihara to win Zurich Classic of New Orleans (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 26.00 with Paddy Power (1/5 1-6)
Back them here:
Back J.Dufner & P.Kizzire to win Zurich Classic of New Orleans (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 61.00 with Winner Sports (1/4 1-5)
Back them here:
Back C.Reazie & L.Glover to win Zurich Classic of New Orleans (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 91.00 with Bet365 (1/4 1-5)
Back them here:
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