The Zurich Classic of New Orleans features a stellar field and it’s a hotly-contested betting affair.
At the top of golf betting markets is the powerhouse combination of Viktor Hovland and Collin Morikawa. However, Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele are hot on their heels.
Defending champions Cameron Smith and Marc Leishman could be the pair to beat, so it shapes up as a terrific PGA Tour tournament.
Let’s check the latest news, stats, injury reports, and Golf odds for the Zurich Classic. We’ve plenty of predictions for you to consider.
Australians Seeking Consecutive Wins
It’s never easy to beat Australians in a team sport and that was evident when Cameron Smith and Marc Leishman won last year.
The win came before Smith hit top gear, which has since seen him win the 2022 Players Championship.
There are concerns about how Leishman is playing, but given the format of the Zurich Classic, you don’t need to be playing the best strokeplay to win.
Smith missed the cut last week at the RBC Heritage, which could have been a flow-on effect after his Masters disappointment.
“I was just frustrated. I feel as though I was one really good swing away from really contending and that’s just how golf is, especially around that golf course,” Smith told Golf Digest. “I feel as though sometimes you can even hit really good golf shots and end up making bogeys and doubles around there. … I’m happy with how I guess handled the situation after.”
The sportsbookhas Smith/Leishman at +900, which is a price worth snapping up. They should attract late attention and they could firm to around +750.
Pick: Smith/Leishman +900
Young Stars Top Market
There isn’t a more exciting combination than Viktor Hovland and Collin Morikawa, who will get plenty of attention.
Morikawa is a dual major champion who is one of the best ball strikers on tour, which is always good to have in a pairs format.
Hovland is a major winner in the waiting and they could combine to win the Zurich Classic at odds of +700.
We’re not surprised to see them heading betting online markets. They bring in oodles of confidence and they’ll have fun on the course, which is a big season why Smith and Leishman play so well.
Bettors should expect the favorites to start well, which would see their odds firm considerably.
Pick: Hovland/Morikawa +700
Tour Win Beckons for Fleetwood
Tommy Fleetwood hasn’t been able to win on the PGA Tour, but the flood gates could open at the Zurich Classic.
The Brit has the game to win on the Tour and he showed that on the European Tour, but he needs to get some confidence back.
Winning the Zurich Classic with Sergio Garcia could see his career trend i n the right direction and they should make for a good pairing.
The Ryder Cup teammates have experience in this format and Garcia knows how to win in America, so he will show Fleetwood the ropes.
“This year I feel like I’m on a much better track,” Fleetwood said. “I don’t feel like I’m trying to find it every week. I was never playing that well, and then I always was trying to find the secret. I was never ready to play.
“This year I feel I’ve got a much better mix; when you’re doing that, it’s much easier to be accepting of yourself. You’re like, ‘I’m doing the right things. I feel like I’m getting better. Maybe this week’s not my week, but maybe next week could be.’”
It’s a good chance for those who haven’t won to etch their name on the trophy and we wouldn’t rule out this pairing.
Fleetwood/Garcia pays +1600 and we expect to see them near the top of the leaderboard.
