The Zurich Classic of New Orleans Predictions, Picks & Odds

• The PGA TOUR’s only pairs event returns for a fifth edition
• The Australians Marc Leishman and Cameron Smith defend the title
• Viktor Hovland and Collin Morikawa form a powerful pairing and top the betting

The Zurich Classic of New Orleans Odds

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The Zurich Classic of New Orleans Picks and Predictions

Billy Horschel & Sam Burns the outright pick at +1200 with Caesars Sportsbook

Harold Varner III & Bubba Watson each way at +2500 with DraftKings 

Marc Leishman & Cameron Smith to miss the cut +350 with BetMGM

Golf has a prickly relationship with formats that are anything other than stroke play.

On the one hand, the sport craves something different. The DP World Tour went through a stage of creating all sorts of different tournaments, but their popularity waned almost as soon as they were announced, never mind waiting to see what actually happened.

Greg Norman’s Saudi Arabian adventure is also excited about the idea of golfing novelty, but so far its greatest innovation has been controversy and intrigue like we’ve never seen before. Not quite what was planned.

This week the PGA TOUR returns to its once-a-year exercise in pairs golf, a not-entirely failed project, but one which has never quite taken off.

The good news is that a surprising number of stars turn up.

This year, for example, Collin Morikawa and Viktor Hovland are partners, and the new Masters champion Scottie Scheffler is also in town.

But it is also notable that a number of top players use this week to give a mate (or even a family member) a handout.

In the past, this has seen four-time major winner Brooks Koepka partner with his brother Chase, a golfer who is yet to emerge from the second tier.

This week Bill Haas teams up with his dad Jay, a senior golfer. It’s a fun idea, just maybe not quite as competitive as the rest of the year.

The field also struggles a little because it sits in-between major championships and the world’s elite have their eye on preparation for next month’s PGA Championship – this is an ideal week to rest and recuperate, in other words.

That means opportunity for others, of course, and, as you’ll soon learn, that informs this week’s selections.

A final reminder on the format: the teams play four ball (or better ball) in rounds one and two, then foursomes (or alternate shot) in rounds two and four.

In each of the first four editions, the winners reached 20-under for the week and twice went much lower (27- and 26-under).

Birdies, especially in the four balls, are essential, in other words.

Hot Horschel Can Make Burns

Billy Horschel is a big fan of the host course, the Pete Dye-designed TPC Louisiana.

The 35-year-old won the tournament when it was an individual event in 2013 and then he won it again alongside Scott Piercy in 2018.

He’s also in terrific form with 16 top 25 finishes since the start of last year, including victory in the 2021 WGC – Dell Match Play.

His partner this week, Sam Burns, is in even better form over the same period, landing 20 top 25s and no less than three victories.

Moreover, Burns hails from Louisiana and almost all of his best golf comes on Bermuda greens (which is what he’ll face this week).

Toss in that both players rank in the top 25 for Par Breaking this season and they look to have a great opportunity this week.

Back them each way at +1200 with Caesars Sportsbook which pays out a generous seven places.

Friends Reunited

It’s been a fine year for Harold Varner III.

He won the Saudi International, was sixth in THE PLAYERS Championship, spent the first half of his Masters debut in the top 10, and was third last week in the RBC Heritage.

And who was the first person to congratulate him after his win in the Middle East?

Only the man he beat into second and a man he calls a close friend – his partner this week, Bubba Watson.

That’s good vibes, good form, and also really good form on Dye designs (in THE PLAYERS and last week).

To that excellent recipe, we can also add a very decent course, tournament, and Dye record for Watson.

The two-time Masters champion won the event in its previous format (in 2011), he’s a two-time top 10 finisher in the pairs, and he’s also a two-time winner at Dye’s TPC River Highlands.

That’s a potent combination.

Take them to win at +2500 and finish top five at +500, both prices with DraftKings.

Aussie Boom or Bust

This last suggestion is inspired by the numbers, and backed up by the story of the last fortnight.

The defending champions are Marc Leishman and Cameron Smith – two Australians who clearly love each other’s company.

Smith not only won 12 months ago he also won the first event in 2017.

So it seems like madness to back him to miss the cut, right?

Well, maybe not.

Because in the two renewals in-between his successes his pairing failed to make the weekend.

That alone makes the price of another missed cut tempting.

Then you throw in his disappointment at failing to convert a strong final round position at the Masters two weeks ago and a missed cut last week into the pot.

You could also note that he’s sometimes struggled with the foursomes format, even in victory.

Another bad round hitting alternate shots could easily prove fatal.

Take BetMGM’s +350 that the Aussies go home early.

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