Zurich Classic of New Orleans: Expert Picks

Tournament Information

Zurich Classic of New Orleans
Date: April 25^th – 28^th
Course: TPC Louisiana
Purse - $7.5MM ($1.1MM to winner)
FedEx points – 400 to winner(s)
2018 Winner: Billy Horschel & Scott Piercy (-22)

Format: The format for this tournament changed two years ago, now groups of two work together to win. One player will be chosen from the Tours priority rankings and the other must be a Tour member or have a sponsor exemption. They play alternate shots in the 1^st and 3^rd rounds and better ball for the 2^nd and 4^th rounds.

Course

TPC Louisiana. Designed just 14 years ago by Pete Dye along with Steve Elkington and Kelly Gibson it has served as home for the Zurich Classic of New Orleans since its inception. This 7,400 yard, par 72 course is a 73.9 rating sporting Bermuda grass, the course as a whole runs quite the opposite from the Hawaii and California courses from earlier this season. Amidst a lush set of 250 acres of wetlands and the Mississippi River delta, this course sits at low altitude, right on sea level. It is lined with Cyprus and Oak Trees and no shortage of bunkers (as many as 100 ) and water traps. The water traps, particularly the one that runs the entirety of the right side of the Par 5 18th hole, make accuracy crucial.

Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

My Starting 4

Patrick Reed & Patrick Cantlay – The Pat & Pat combo. They finished 18^th here in 2017 and 7^th last year, probably one of the most dominant pairings in this tournament with a history of success.

Kevin Kisner & Scott Brown – They collectively finished 2^nd here in 2017. They followed that with a 15^th place here last year. Kevin has a really touching story about someone who was a beneficiary of he and his wife’s foundation the Kisner Foundation. Kevin has now made 13 straight cuts.

Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Jason Dufner & Pat Perez – This is such a fun duo to watch and could be one of the strongest pairings coming into this tournament. They finished 2^nd last year and Jason Dufner finished 8^th here with Patton Kizzire in 2017.

Tyler Duncan & Adam Schenk – They finished 9^th here as a duo last year. Adam Schenk has top 35 finishes in five of his last seven tournaments. This might be a good statement tournament for Adam and the duo.

My Bench 2

Charl Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen – These two finished 3^rd last year here. It’s fantastic to see two hard hitting major winning player from South Africa team up together. Louis might have the carry the team as Charl has missed cuts in four of the last five tournaments.

Troy Merritt & Robert Streb – Both have finished in the top 30 each year they have played here in a duo (for Robert it’s just one year with Troy in 2017). Troy can be a risky play, in his last five tournaments he has three finishes inside the top 25 and two missed cuts. Robert is the riskier play though, he has missed four cuts in his last five tournaments.

2019 Stats

Starting 4: Avg Finish 43rd place (34^th percentile)
Bench 2: Avg Finish 56th place (44^th percentile)