Golf fans are in for a treat this week as the PGA tour treks to Avondale, Louisiana for the 2016 edition of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. It promises to be one heck of a competition with world no. 1 Jason Day headlining a tough 156-man field.
Who will emerge victorious and grab the $1.26 million top prize? Read on below as a bunch of experts sound off on their picks and predictions for this lucrative PGA Tour event. While you’re at it, you can check out our complete preview and sleeper picks for this year’s Zurich Classic.
2016 Zurich Classic of New Orleans Experts Picks and Predictions
ProGolfNow
Sam Belden has made his choice and it is Justin Rose who he thinks will win the Zurich Classic of New Orleans this week. What makes Rose such a good pick in his eyes is his outstanding record here at TPC Louisiana. The 2013 US Open champion has never missed out on the top 15 in this event in each of the last four years, including a victory here last year. The Englishman has been playing some solid golf of late as well, notching top-30s in his last six starts, including a pair of top-10 finishes. With the form that he is in right now and his experience with this particular golf course, Rose has an excellent chance of defending his title this coming weekend.
U.S. Golf TV
Troy Klongerbo of U.S. Golf TV believes that Daniel Berger will win the Zurich Classic this week. He has been playing some excellent golf of late, grabbing top-10 finishes in each of his last two starts on the PGA Tour. Berger tied for 10th in his last start at the Masters, shooting a 1-over-par total of 289. The 23-year-old has had some success in the Zurich Classic in the past as well, finishing in a tie for sixth in his first appearance here last year. Berger was solid that entire week, carding 21 birdies in 72 holes.
What makes Berger such a huge threat in every golf event that he competes on is his incredible power off the tee. He is 25th in the PGA Tour in driving distance this season with a 299.8 yard-per-drive average. That powerful swing will come in handy for Berger when tackling the long 7,425-yard, par-72 TPC Louisiana course.
