PREVIEW: PGA Tour – Zurich Classic Of New Orleans

But I wonder if they are at risk of diluting their product with all these elevated-status events. There used to be something quite calming about watching the players descend on Harbor Town for a decompression session. The added stakes seem to have taken a little bit of the flavour out of this event.

I’m just a fan of the way the tour used to shift between huge events and slightly smaller-scale ones. This new format could alienate the mid-tier players and the tour is at risk of losing a part of its identity. Maybe I’m just starting to show my age.

The Zurich Classic of New Orleans

This segues nicely into our discussion of this week’s event: the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. This has to be the most relaxed event on the entire PGA Tour.

It’s easy to sometimes stereotype these PGA Tour professionals as robotic and self-contained. We are used to seeing them walking around golf courses mired in their own thoughts for hours at a time.

This team tournament offers the rare chance to see them interact on a more causal level (far removed from the pressure-cooker atmosphere of the Ryder Cup).

This event has been a permanent fixture on the tour since 1958. It used to be one of the more decorated events on tour: Nicklaus, Player and Watson all won this event in its heyday. But the event gradually lost its lustre and the PGA took action.

In 2017 they decided to shake things up and change this from an ordinary stroke-play tournament to a team event. And it has thrived ever since.

The Format

This 72-hole stroke-play event will feature a starting field of 80 two-man teams. The teams will play four-ball (better ball) in rounds one and three. The teams will play foursomes (alternate shot) in rounds two and four. The low 33 teams and ties after 36 holes will make the weekend.

TPC Louisiana

TPC Louisiana began hosting duties of this event in 2005. It, unfortunately, had to relinquish hosting duties in 2006 due to the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina but it has hosted every renewal since 2007.

This is yet another exquisite Pete Dye design. It feels as if we should call this part of the year the Pete Dye Swing (Augusta aside). But this Bermuda grass layout feels more like a resort course than those aforementioned Championship golf courses.

The fairways are generous and the greens are receptive. It’s fairly long and I would favour driving distance over accuracy this week. The power-duo of Schauffele and Cantlay highlighted this with an opening 59 last year.

But this test ultimately boils down to a putting contest. Players will need to drain plenty of putts to stay in contention this year.

The Contenders

Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay are defending champions and will take some beating. They are perennial contenders in virtually every event they play.

I wouldn’t be surprised if they flirt with 59 again. It will be interesting to see what pace Cantlay plays at this week. Collin Morikawa disappointed last year alongside Viktor Hovland and will have a new partner this year in Max Homa.

Sungjae Im and Keith Mitchell should pepper plenty of flagsticks while RBC champ Matthew Fitzpatrick tees it up alongside younger brother Alex Fitzpatrick.

Past Winners

2022: Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay (-29)
2021: Cameron Smith and Mark Leishman (-20)
2020: cancelled due to pandemic
2019: Jon Rahm and Ryan Palmer (-26)
2018: Billy Horschel and Scott Piercy (-22)
2017: Cameron Smith an Jonas Blixt (-27)

To Win Outright:

Schauffele/Cantlay 3/1 | Morikawa/Homa 15/2 | Im/Mitchell 12/1 | S.W. Kim/ T. Kim 14/1 | Burns/Horschel 14/1

Value Bets

Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin- To Win 28/1 | To Place 6/1

These two are a solid- if unspectacular- pairing. But they are seasoned Tour professionals who could work well together. Adam Hadwin has always been the type of player who can go super low. He is currently 5th in par 3 scoring average in this field. He should theoretically give them an advantage on the shorter holes. Taylor brings the hot putter to this contest (he ranks 5th in the field in putting average). He has also posted top 15 finishes in the Valero Texas Open and Valspar Championship over the last month.

Sam Ryder and Doc Redman- To Win 66/1 | To Place 8/1

This one is my left-field pick this week. Doc Redman arrives in really poor form. However, a recent 16th-place finish at the Valspar will give him some minor confidence. But Sam Ryder arrives in the form of his life. He has three top-eight finishes this season. This includes a solo 3rd at the recent Valero Texas Open. He also finished T4 at Torrey Pines. This duo finished 3rd last year without any fanfare and I think they have value in the place markets.

The Team to Beat- Sahith Theegala and Justin Suh- To Win 20/1 | To Place 4/1

I’m bypassing the top contenders this week and looking for value elsewhere. This one just passes the ‘eye’ test. These are two young players with plenty of momentum behind them. Theegala has looked close to a breakthrough win of late, finishing 9th at the Masters and 5th at last week’s RBC Heritage. Suh has also played well this season, tying for 5th at the Honda Classic and 6th at the Players. I just think these two could be well-suited. Theegala has performed amazingly in recent weeks despite having to make plenty of miracle shots from off the greens. This type of Mickelson-esque play could make him a potent teammate.