Players will get a break from individual stroke play this week at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, which is a two-man team event that includes two rounds of best ball and two rounds of alternate shot. It’s a unique tournament that pairs some of the top players in the world as they compete across 72 holes with a standard 36-hole cut. Below, we search for the best value prop bets among the 2022 Zurich Classic odds and make our PGA Tour picks and predictions.
There are some big names in the field at TPC Louisiana this week, including a few top players teaming up together. Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele are a promising tandem, ranking 5th and 20th, respectively, in this week’s Golfweek/Sagarin rankings. The most talented team might be Viktor Hovland (4th in Sagarin rankings) and Collin Morikawa (12th), while last year’s champions, Cameron Smith (11th) and Marc Leishman (33rd) know this event and its format well.
Also see: Zurich Classic picks and predictions to win
2022 Zurich Classic – Top-5 picks
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Tuesday at 12:59 p.m. ET.
Cameron Smith and Marc Leishman (+230)
Smith has won this event twice, each time with different partners. He missed the cut in 2019 and 2018, but he and Leishman made a great team last year en route to their victory. If Smith plays the way he did at Augusta rather than his performance at the RBC Heritage last week, he and Leishman will be in the hunt late Sunday.
Billy Horschel and Sam Burns (+250)
Horschel and Burns are a fun team. They’re both up there in birdie average, each ranking in the top 26 this season. Horschel’s putting will pair nicely with Burns’ ball striking, just as it did last year when they tied for 4th, finishing only 2 shots off the lead.
Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele (+162)
It’s really hard not to like this team. Cantlay is getting hot after finishing second in a playoff last week, while Schauffele has no glaring weaknesses in his game. They have the shortest odds to come in the top 5, but it’s worth a bet because they could legitimately win this week.
Other T5 contenders (in order from longest odds to shortest):
- Will Zalatoris and Davis Riley (+650)
- Max Homa and Talor Gooch (+425)
[tipico]
2022 Zurich Classic – Top-20 picks
Bubba Watson and Harold Varner III (-120)
Watson has finished in the top 35 in each of his last 4 appearances here, though Varner hasn’t made the cut since 2016 at this event. Despite that trend, Varner is picking up steam entering this week after a rollercoaster showing at the RBC Heritage.
Sahith Theegala and Beau Hossler (+200)
There are always going to be a few surprise teams that crack the top 20 and this could be the pairing in 2022. Hossler missed the cut in his only appearance here last year, and this is Theegala’s debut. Experience helps in a format like this one, but sometimes a lack of expectations can also fuel a young pairing.
Other T20 contenders:
- Denny McCarthy and Ben Kohles (+260)
WATCH: PGA Tour is live on ESPN+! Get ESPN+
2022 Zurich Classic – Matchups
Suggested play is team in bold (first team listed).
Scottie Scheffler/Ryan Palmer (+125) vs. Morikawa/Hovland (-145)
Morikawa and Hovland could very well win this thing, but they’re both in the bottom 25 among all players in strokes gained: Around the green this season. Their chipping could be their Achilles’ heel. Meanwhile, Palmer has won this event before and he’s paired with the No. 1 player in the world. I like this bet at plus money.
Homa/Gooch (-120) vs. Sungjae Im/Byeong An (+100)
I love this pairing of Homa and Gooch. They tied for 17th last year and both possess the ability to rack up birdies. Ball striking will be on display in this tandem – Homa and Gooch are both top-30 in strokes gained: Tee to green. So, it’ll come down to making putts when inside 15 feet.
2022 Zurich Classic – First-round leader
Scheffler and Palmer (+2000)
I’m going back to the well with Scheffler and Palmer here. Palmer is steady off the tee, while Scheffler has been great on the greens and hitting approaches. If you like Scheffler and Palmer to win, you can get them at longer odds to simply lead after one round.
More expert prop bet predictions
Will there be a playoff? Yes: (+280)
In the four years this tournament has been played as a team event – it was canceled in 2020 – there has been a playoff twice. The biggest margin of victory was 3 shots in 2019 and the margin was only 1 stroke in 2018.
I like this bet at +280, given the overall talent in the field and the lack of a true odds-on favorite.
Will there be a hole in one? No (-280)
With two of the four rounds being played as alternate shot, you lose half of the opportunities for a hole in one during those rounds. Sure, players can be more aggressive in attacking pins if their partner is in tight during best-ball rounds, but I’m betting there won’t be a hole in one.
Want some action on the 2022 Zurich Classic? Bet legally online with a trusted partner: Tipico Sportsbook, Sportsbook Wire’s official sportsbook partner in CO, NJ and soon IA. Bet now!
If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW. Please gamble responsibly.
Golfweek:
- Exclusive: First PGA Tour player seeks permission to play Saudi tournament
- The Match will return with only NFL quarterbacks as Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers will take on Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen
Follow @camdasilva on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
Gannett may earn revenue from Tipico for audience referrals to betting services. Tipico has no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. See Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. 21+ only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA).
[lawrence-newsletter]
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1364]