Zurich Classic 2023: Predictions, expert picks, odds, course ranking, golf format, best bets at TPC Louisiana

This week will be unusual as the Zurich Classic 2023 takes place every year on the PGA Tour calendar. Welcoming 80 teams of two to TPC Louisiana, the sixth edition of the team-style tournament will see competitors four-ball in Rounds 1 and 3 and four-player – also known as alternate play – in Rounds 2 and 4.

Last season, good friends, as well as Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup teammates, Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay took home the title. They arrive this year as the favorite and the second team in the event’s history to have two players break into the top five of the Official World Golf Ranking.

Schauffele and Cantlay are two of five players in last week’s ranking who will make the trip from Hilton Head, South Carolina, to New Orleans with RBC Heritage champion Matt Fitzpatrick also on the field.

The world No. 8 joins forces with his younger brother, Alex, who is just starting his career for the second time on the PGA Tour. Hayden Buckley will team up with JJ Spaun while Sahith Theegala has sought the services of reigning Korn Ferry Tour Player of the Year Justin Suh.

Californians and Presidents Cup teammates Max Homa and Collin Morikawa are a pair for the first time, as are International teammates Si Woo Kim and Tom Kim. While the Americans never showed up together this past fall at Quail Hollow, the Kims memorably knocked out Cantlay and Schauffele in four balls.

Information & Events

Event: Zurich Classic 2023 | Day: April 20-23
Location: TPC Louisiana — Avondale, Louisiana
Fate: 72 | Yard: 7,425 | Purse: $8,600,000

Format

The Zurich Classic will use an alternate format of four balls and four people. Teams will start in a four-ball format in Round 1 and use it again in Round 3 while a Foursomes format – commonly known as alternate play – will be used in Rounds 2 and 4.

• Four balls: Players from each team will play their own ball throughout the round with the best score between the two used for each hole. If Schauffele is tied with No. 1 and Cantlay scores a birdie, the team will score a birdie.
• Four people: Before the round begins, the teams will determine which member will tee off on which hole. One player will be assigned to hit the first tee on the odd holes while the other will start the even holes. If Cantlay takes the first tee shot, Schauffele will approach Cantlay then hit third. This rotation will continue until the ball enters the hole. Even if Schauffele was the last to tee off on hole 1, he would tee off on hole 2 in this case.

Rick Gehman joins Kyle Porter, Mark Immelman and Patrick McDonald in breaking up a unique team event called the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. It’s the choices, the plot, and the highly competitive One & Done. Follow and listen to The First Cut on Apple Podcasts And Spotify.

Zurich Classic Stadium 2023, odds

Odds via Caesars Sportsbook

• Xander Schauffele/Patrick Cantlay (3-1)
• Collin Morikawa/Max Homa (February 13): The Cali kids teamed up for the first time and both were in the top 15 of the Official World Golf Ranking. While on paper the two should stick, Homa’s lack of quality since the Florida Swing could be cause for concern. He hasn’t hit the ball well in the past month, and missed his first pass in 15 appearances last week at Harbor Town. Morikawa’s irons are load-bearing, but his shortcomings on the green can be emphasized in this format. Partnering with Viktor Hovland during last year’s proceedings, Morikawa was only able to put together a T29 effort.
• Sungjae Im/Keith Mitchell (11-1): This unlikely duo could be the team that scares the top dogs. Mitchell has been hunting Im for a partnership in recent years, and he’s finally granted his wish. The Korean is ranked T7 at RBC Heritage, where he ranks second in strokes won from tee to green, second in strokes won from tee and seventh in strokes won around the green. With Mitchell’s explosive swings and Im’s raw iron play, this team could separate through two innings of four if the batters behave well.
• Si Woo Kim/Tom Kim (January 14): The two were together at Tom Kim’s launch party at the 2022 Presidents Cup. Balancing an eagle, winning a birdie and a scream echoed throughout the Lower 48, the Korean pair defeated Quail Hollow like a storm. However, that was then and this is now. Both players played respectfully from tee to teeing ground but failed to hold the putter in hand. The good news is that both can run hot on grass. The bad news is that both can run cold. Anything from a miss to a win could be on the table.
• Sam Burns/Billy Horschel (18-1): Rounds 62-68-63-68 put them under 27 totals in 2022. It would be good enough any other year to lift the trophy, but Schauffele and Cantlay’s record run leaves the duo This SEC finished first two strokes. . This will be their third appearance together as they register as one of five teams with two players in the OWGR top 50. Both players can roll with all their might, which makes them extremely dangerous, but Horschel’s irons will need to get them to the putting surface first.
• Kurt Kitayama/Taylor Montgomery (January 22):
• Sahith Theegala/Justin Suh (January 22)
• Wyndham Clark/Beau Hossler (January 22)
• Matt Fitzpatrick/Alex Fitzpatrick (28-1)
• JJ Spaun/Hayden Buckley (33-1)
• Nick Taylor/Adam Hadwin (33-1)
• Davis Riley/Nick Hardy (33-1)
• Harris English/Tom Hoge (33-1): This is a team with stealth abilities made up of a few veterans. Setting aside recent alma mater differences (Georgia and TCU), English and Hoge forge a perfect ham and egg partnership. Both players make group birdies, which will allow them to catch up to speed in four balls. In quartet, the combination of Hoge’s iron play and British placement can make all the difference.
• Joel Dahmen/Denny McCarthy (33-1)

2023 Zurich Classic selects experts

Which team will win the Zurich Classic, and which long shot will stun the golfing world? Visit SportsLine now to see the expected standings and best betall from a model that has gained 9 golf majors and raised over $7,300 since June 2020.