Zurich Classic of New Orleans Predictions: Canadians Can Collect

• The tournament takes place at TPC Louisiana once more 

• It features 80 two-man teams, with a cut after 36 holes

• Rory McIlroy is making his debut in the event   

Zurich Classic of New Orleans Odds

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Zurich Classic of New Orleans Picks and Predictions

• Nick Taylor/Adam Hadwin each-way (1/4 1-5) at +2500 with bet365

• Tom Hoge/Maverick McNealy each-way (1/4 1-5) at +2500 with bet365

• Davis Riley/Nick Hardy for Top 10 at +400 with DraftKings Sportsbook

Zurich Classic of New Orleans Intro

The Zurich Classic of New Orleans pairs event is now a regular stop on the PGA Tour.

TPC Louisiana originally staged the tournament when it was standard 72-hole strokeplay and it’s continued to host since the format changed in 2017.

A recap of how it works: 80 two-man teams play four rounds, better-ball on days one and three, and alternate shot in rounds two and four.

Once more, the elite duo of Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffle heads the betting but there are plenty of other stellar names on show.

Rory McIlroy makes his tournament debut while no less than three pairs of brothers tee it up.

From Europe, Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick along with Rasmus and Nicolai Hojgaard try their luck, as do American siblings Parker and Pierceson Coody.

Official World Golf Ranking points aren’t on offer but FedExCup points are so there’s more than just pride and bragging rights at stake. 

A final note on the format: there’s a cut after 36 holes with only the low 33 teams and ties making it through to the weekend.

Expect good weather for this year’s shootout and perhaps at least one pair will be able to match Cantlay and Schauffele and break 60 in one of the better-ball rounds.  

Last 5 Winners of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans

Note: There was no tournament in 2020 due to the pandemic.

Course Notes

• TPC Louisiana is a par 72 that measures 7,425 yards from the tips

• The course was designed by Pete Dye and opened 20 years ago

• The course features overseeded Bermuda greens  

• Cantlay/Schauffele hold the better-ball 18-hole record of 59

• They also share the alternate shot record of 63 with Hadwin/Taylor

• Hardy/Riley broke the 72-hole record last year when shooting 258 (-30)

Favorites to Win the Zurich Classic of New Orleans

Patrick Cantlay/Xander Schauffele (+450) at BetMGM

Quite simply the team to beat. The two best buddies have played together in the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup and won this tournament in 2022. They finished fourth when defending last year. Cantlay arrives on the back of third place in last week’s RBC Heritage. Schauffele was 18th there after posting eighth in The Masters.       

Rory McIlroy/Shane Lowry (+750) at BetMGM

They didn’t actually play together in Europe’s 2023 Ryder Cup triumph where McIlroy was the top scorer with 4pts. But it makes sense that the two Irishmen will gel. Lowry was 13th here in 2022 alongside Ian Poulter while this is McIlroy’s debut. Current form? Lowry had two disappointing weeks at Augusta (43rd) and the RBC Heritage (64th) while Rory was underwhelming too with 22nd and 33rd in those same two events.     

Sahith Theegala/Will Zalatoris (+800) at BetMGM

It’s a new pairing and one that could go far. Theegala has five top 10s this season and landed a second runners-up finish of the campaign at the RBC Heritage last Sunday. Zalatoris cracked the top 10 at The Masters and has some form here too via fourth place in tandem with Davis Riley in 2022.      

Back Taylor and Hadwin to Go One Better

With Canada hosting this year’s Presidents Cup, it makes sense that Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin will want to show skipper Mike Weir that they can thrive in a pairs format. 

Taylor, now the World No.29, has had quite a 12 months. 

He won his home Canadian Open last June and took his tally of PGA Tour titles to four by beating a top-quality field at February’s Waste Management Phoenix Open.

Hadwin has had some strong weeks too, posting a top six in each of January (The American Express), February (Genesis Invitational), and March (Valspar Championship). 

The duo are already proven in this format after teaming up to finish solo second last year.

They closed 64-63 on the weekend, the 63 in an alternate shot on day four matching the lowest-ever score in that format here.   

The Canucks look well worth a bet at +2500 at bet365 (each-way 1/4 five places).     

Hoge and McNealy to Shine

I’m also going to put my money on a second pair in the outright market and take the American duo of Tom Hoge and Maverick McNealy ( each-way (1/4 1-5) at +2500 with bet365).

Hoge is the one that gives this partnership particular appeal.

The 34-year-old Hoge has made his last 10 cuts on the PGA Tour and he’s landed in the top 20 in six of the last eight.

Hoge has a 10th and a 13th (last year) in this event and also joined forces with Sahith Theegala in late 2022 to win another pairs event, the silly season’s QBE Shootout in Florida.     

McNealy has had some bright moments on the PGA Tour of late, seeing plenty of positive results since working with Butch Harmon.

They include sixth in the Phoenix Open and ninth in THE PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass last month. 

Both Hoge and McNealy are in the top 32 for Strokes Gained: Putting this season so should be able to cash in on the greens, a key element in this format.     

Defending Duo to Land Top 10

Davis Riley and Nick Hardy had the winning formula last year and with defending champions having a good record in the event, there’s every chance they perform well again.

A second straight win seems a tall order but another high finish is certainly within reach so back them to make the top 10 at +400 with DraftKings Sportsbook.

How to Watch the Zurich Classic of New Orleans

• Tournament: Zurich Classic of New Orleans

• Location: Avondale, LA

• Date: Thursday, April 25 - Sunday, April 28

• How to Watch: Thursday-Friday 3.30 p.m.-6.30 p.m. ET (Golf Channel), Saturday-Sunday 12.45 p.m-2.45 p.m (Golf Channel), 3 p.m.-6 p.m. (CBS). And all four days on Sky Sports.