The PGA Tour moves from Texas to Louisiana this week for the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, a popular spot for ball strikers who are looking for some quality practice for the big events that are on the horizon.
Justin Rose defends the title he won 12 months ago and he along with Jason Day add a really nice profile to the field this week. There are a number of players looking to emulate Rose and win so we’re all set up for a good tournament.
Recent champions
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
2006 – Chris Couch
The course
This tournament will be held at TPC Louisiana which like Hilton Head a couple of weeks ago is a Pete Dye design. All of Dye’s tracks suit good ball strikers and this one is no different. Hitting greens in regulation is usually an important trend which fits in with the ball striking theme.
The course is a par 72 which measures 7,425 yards so it is a bit of a monster so those with length on their side should go well on this course too but we’re not after Bubba Watson type length. Good control of the golf ball and some form with the short stick will make a player tough to beat as we saw when Branden Grace won the Heritage two weeks ago.
The field
Justin Rose is the defending champion but he’s only the second favourite this week. He is 17/2 to land the tournament with Jason Day the 5/1 favourite. Rickie Fowler also adds some glamour to proceedings and he is 12/1 to win the event. Billy Horschel is 20/1 on the best prices with Daniel Berger at 25/1, the same price as last week’s winner Charley Hoffman.
I can’t be backing Rose myself. His tee to green game is ok but it has been a while since he has convinced me with the putter. Day is the obvious favourite and you could make a case he should be a great deal shorter in a field lacking a little top class depth but backing 5/1 shots aren’t for me.
Rickie Fowler doesn’t look completely on top of his game and he could be a wee bit too ragged around here for comfort while Charley Hoffman gave off the impression that he had achieved his goal when winning last week. The relief he displayed afterwards makes me think he might suffer a comedown now.
Main bets
I’m going with two main bets in this tournament. Both are right up in the betting but I’m expecting them both to go well. I’m starting with a former champion in the form of Billy Horschel.
I was hoping Horschel would go unnoticed in the final round last week but given that the leading group on Sunday made a complete kybosh of things Horschel was in the spotlight and the way he is playing was highlighted. As a result his price is a little on the skinny side this week but having won here in the past we know this is a favourite stop off for him.
Horschel is very proficient from tee to green and he putted quite well in Texas last week so you sense the confidence is beginning to build in the Ho. That is no surprise though because he has had top 20 finishes in the Honda Classic, at Bay Hill and in The Masters in the last six weeks or so and when Horschel is confident in his weapons and strong in his mind he’s a real player. I fancy another decent run from him here.
The other man I’m taking is another player in good form in Daniel Berger. Berger played very well at The Masters where if he hadn’t found the drink on the 15th on Sunday he would have ended under par in a tough week. Prior to that he was just outside the top 10 in the Valspar and finished fifth in the Shell Houston Open so he’s in good nick.
Berger is long off the tee and hits a lot of greens. His putting has been above average in his last two outings and he showed he likes this course when he finished sixth on debut here last year. He’s yet to win on the PGA Tour but that win is coming and it could well be this week.
Outsiders
I’m also taking a couple at bigger odds. The first one I’ve backed a few times this season and I’m not yet ready to desert him while the other one is a statistics based play who should outrun his current price.
Patton Kizzire is the man I’m taking once again. He is such a good putter I feel he has to be in contention around here. He is more than competent enough from tee to green to remain in play and so as long as the short stick continues to go well he’ll be right there.
Kizzire sits eighth in strokes gained putting on the PGA Tour this year and he has had four top 10 finishes this season. He was right in the mix in The Heritage on a Pete Dye track a couple of weeks ago before being found out over the weekend but I’m hoping he has learnt from that and if he has he’s a contender this week.
Lucas Glover seems to enjoy himself around here. He has played the tournament eight times and has made the cut on seven occasions with three of those seven cuts made being converted into top 10 finishes. That is a record as good as most here.
Glover leads the tour for ball striking this season. He is second in total driving and second in greens in regulation so if he plays to the mean over the course of his year he is going to give himself a lot of chances this week. He hasn’t been holing many putts for a good while now but they seem to drop here more than anywhere else. If they do that this week he could make a joke of his three figure price.
Tips
Back B.Horschel to win Zurich Classic of New Orleans for a 1.5/10 stake at 19.00 with Paddy Power (1/5 1-7)
Back D.Berger to win Zurich Classic of New Orleans for a 1.5/10 stake at 23.00 with Paddy Power (1/5 1-7)
Back P.Kizzire to win Zurich Classic of New Orleans for a 0.5/10 stake at 61.00 with Paddy Power (1/5 1-7)
Back L.Glover to win Zurich Classic of New Orleans for a 0.5/10 stake at 101.00 with Paddy Power (1/5 1-7)
Back them here:
