Following a thrilling finish at the RBC Heritage in Hilton Head, the next stop on the schedule is the uniquely formatted Zurich Classic of New Orleans. This is the only full-field team event on tour, pairing two players together in a 72-hole event. Below, we look at the 2022 Zurich Classic odds and make our PGA Tour picks and predictions to win.
The Zurich Classic is a one-of-a-kind tournament with golfers pairing up for four rounds — two being best ball and two being alternate shot. The first and third rounds will be best ball with the second and fourth being alternate shot.
Cameron Smith and Marc Leishman, last year’s champions, are back to try to defend their title, and it’s no surprise they’re among the favorites. Viktor Hovland and Collin Morikawa are another powerhouse team, as are Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is partnered with Ryan Palmer, while Sam Burns and Billy Horschel make up another powerful tandem.
The Zurich Classic is hosted by TPC Louisiana, which is a par 72 and plays at 7,425 yards. Designed by Pete Dye, just like last week’s event at Harbour Town Golf Links in South Carolina, it’s a bunker-filled layout with more than 100 traps spanning the course. There isn’t much elevation change throughout the course, which is laid out on wetlands and features plenty of water.
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2022 Zurich Classic – Expert pick
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Monday at 6:42 p.m. ET.
Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele (+750)
Cantlay nearly secured his first win of the season last weekend at the RBC Heritage, losing to Jordan Spieth on the first hole of the playoff. He struck the ball well and now ranks seventh on tour in total strokes gained.
Schauffele hasn’t been playing as well as Cantlay, failing to finish inside the top 10 since February, but he’s still 35 in strokes gained: approach the green, and that ball striking will set up well with Cantlay’s putting when they play alternate shot.
2022 Zurich Classic picks – Contenders
Harold Varner III and Bubba Watson (odds +3000)
Varner made a strong push at the RBC Heritage with a third-round 63. He had a shot to get into the playoff on the 18th hole Sunday, but a 40-something-foot birdie putt just burned the edge. It was his third straight top-25 finish, including the Masters, continuing a strong stretch of play from the 31-year-old.
Watson tied for 39th at the Masters and while he hasn’t played a full schedule, he did have two top-15s in his first two starts this season. With Varner’s ball striking into the greens and Watson’s work around the greens, these two should have a shot.
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2022 Zurich Classic picks – Long shot
Sahith Theegala and Beau Hossler (+8000)
This is obviously a long-shot play with two young guns who can get hot at any time. Hossler finished tied for 4th at the Valero Texas Open two weeks ago, one of his five top-25s this season. While he’s struggled with his irons (162nd in strokes gained: tee-to-green), he’s 7th in strokes gained: putting.
Theegala also has five top-25s and though he hasn’t finished better than tied for 67th in his last two starts, he played well at the Valspar and Corales Puntacana Championship. It’s a fun pairing that could surprise some people this week.
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Golfweek:
- Jordan Spieth keeps promise to sign autographs for young fans after winning 2022 RBC Heritage
- Jordan Spieth is 11th PGA Tour player to surpass $50 million in career on-course earnings
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