For one week out of the PGA Tour season players switch gears from the standard individual stroke play events to team with a partner in the unique format used at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. The only full-field team event has 80 two-player teams alternating between best ball and alternate shot formats at TPC Louisiana. With less than half the field advancing to the weekend, a fast start is needed to make the cut, and the team format presents an interesting angle in the betting markets. Nick Hardy and Davis Riley established the team scoring record winning last year’s event, bettering the previous mark by one shot. Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffle established the record with their win in 2022 and they are betting favorites in the outright market after earning a top 5 in their title defense. Visit BookMaker.eu for a complete list of matchups and betting odds when you’re ready to place a wager.
Zurich Classic of New Orleans Matchup Odds
Cantlay / Schauffele -150 vs. Mcilroy / Lowry +125
Cantlay / Schauffele -165 vs. Theegala / Zalatoris +137
Cantlay / Schauffele -175 vs. Morikawa / Kitayama +145
McIlroy / Lowry -130 vs. Theegala / Zalatoris +109
McIlroy / Lowry -140 vs. Morikawa / Kitayama +117
Theegala / Zalatoris -120 vs. Morikawa / Kitayama +100
N Taylor / Hadwin -110 vs. M Fitzpatrick / A Fitzpatrick -110
N Taylor/ Hadwin +100 vs. Hoge / McNealy -120
M Fitzpatrick / A Fitzpatrick +100 vs. Hoge / McNealy -120
Conners / Pendrith -110 vs. Hojgaard / Hojgaard -110
Conners / Pendrith -120 vs. Garnett / Straka +100
Hojgaard / Hojgaard -120 vs. Garnett / Straka +100
Ghim / C Kim -120 vs. Thompson / Novak +100
Mitchell / Dahmen -132 vs. Berger / Perez +110
Montgomery / Griffin -110 vs. Higgo / Fox -110
Lower / D Wu +106 vs. Detry / MacIntyre -127
Smalley /Schmid -127 vs. Hossler / Ryder +106
Rai / Lipsky +106 vs. Horschel / Alexander -127
Hardy / Riley +106 vs. Wallace / Olesen -127
Yu / Pan -127 vs. Sigg / Hadley +106
List / Norlander -127 vs. Coody / Coody +106
Phillips / Bridgeman -127 vs. Norrman / Campillo +106
Suh / Hoey +108 vs. Woodland / Hodges -129
Johnson / Palmer +100 vs. Lashley / Campos -120
Kuchar / Stricker -138 vs. Malnati / Knox +115
Barnes / Endycott -127 vs. Streelman / Laird +106
Brehm / Hubbard -120 vs. Vegas / Burgoon +100
Champ / Daffue -110 vs. Kohles / Kizzire -110
Need to Know
This will be the seventh playing of the tournament using the team format. Several pairings return from previous events, including the past two winners. Cantlay and Schauffele set the scoring record at 29-under to win the 2022 edition only to see Hardy and Riley card 30-under last year. Do those teams have an advantage? It’s hard to say, but it can’t hurt. The Hojgaard and Coody twins are three sets of brothers scheduled to peg it up with a majority of teams having some connection, including Rory McIlroy, who debuts with fellow Irishman and Ryder Cup teammate Shane Lowry. Located just outside New Orleans, TPC Louisiana is a scoreable par 72 that stretches to 7,425 yards. Tee to green the layout is relatively easy for pros with a high percentage of fairways and greens hit. The course was altered with new sand and water hazards when it became the permanent host in 2007.
Zurich Classic of New Orleans Matchup Picks
Taylor/ Hadwin +100 vs. Hoge / McNealy
Individually the Canadians have fared well this season and they broke through at this event last year playing as teammates for the first time. They finished two shots off the lead with their cumulative score of 28-under good enough to win four of the previous five playings. Taylor has a win at the Phoenix Open earlier this season and Hadwin has registered a pair of top 5s. They were a dangerous team last year and a good bet at even-money.
Morikawa / Kitayama +117 vs. McIlroy / Lowry
The favorites have long odds in their matchups so I’m looking to see what teams have the best value against them. This one stands out for a few reasons. McIlroy is looking to find his game after finishing outside the top 20 in his previous two starts while Morikawa is in a groove with a podium at the Masters and a solo ninth in the RBC Heritage. Also, Kitayama has been solid all season giving value to this team at its price.
Theegala / Zalatoris +137 vs. Cantlay / Schauffele
With their partnership in big events and their success in New Orleans, it’s hard to bet against Cantlay/Schauffele. However, the team of Theegala/Zalatoris intrigues me at their price. Theegala has been one of the most consistent players on Tour finishing as runner-up at the RBC Heritage, his second this season among five top 10s. And Zalatoris has regained form after a back ailment put him on the shelf. He was fourth here two years ago and has three top 10s in his last six starts.
Hardy / Riley +106 vs. Wallace / Olesen
Individually they haven’t done anything, but when Hardy and Riley teamed up last year the shots were falling. Each player has just one career victory, which came here when the duo set a team scoring record at 30-under. Their lack of success has them at plus odds but playing together seems to bring out the best in them.
Horschel / Alexander -127 vs. Rai / Lipsky
I was hesitant to back the duo of Horschel and Alexander since they are playing together for the first time. It’s hard to ignore what Horschel has accomplished in this tournament, though. He’s the only player to win the individual and team format succeeding in 2013 and with Scott Piercy in 2018. Two years ago he was runner-up with Sam Burns proving it doesn’t matter who Horschel is partnered with.
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker.eu.
Check out the latest odds at BookMaker
