Missing some golf action? The Zurich Classic of New Orleans is here to save the day. Some of the best golfers in the world will be on the greens of TPC Louisiana for a chance at the Zurich Classic title. A handful of former champions will play in the event for another shot at glory. Will one of them be able to win yet another title? Or will someone else finally win his first ever Zurich Classic?
Read on as we take a look at the best golfers to keep an eye on heading into this weekend’s golf tournament. For more on the Zurich Classic, check out our best sleepers and long shots features.
Jason Day had a rough going at the RBC Heritage right after placing 10th at the Masters Tournament. The Aussie golfer placed 23rd in the RBC Heritage, but did have some moments when he topped the leaderboard along with Kevin Chappell and Charley Hoffman after the first two rounds.
Nevertheless, expect Day to rebound in a big way heading into the Zurich Classic. He’s been in excellent form recently having won six of his last 14 starts. While dips in performance is normal, they should be few and far in between stellar outings. Expect Day to show why he’s one of the best golfers in the world at the Zurich Classic.
Justin Rose
Justin Rose won his seventh tour title last year at TPC Louisiana with a tournament record 22-under par. He used a pair of birdies in the 17th and 18th holes to punctuate his win. Rose was solid at the course for most of the tournament. He went his final 66 holes without a bogey. Rose has won at least once in each of the past six years. If there’s a time to do one in 2016, it’s here at the Zurich Classic.
Bubba Watson
Bubba Watson last won the Zurich Classic in 2011. He enters this tournament ready to claim a second title considering his good form. Watson has already taken his first victory of the year after shooting a 15-under at the 2016 Northern Thrust Open. He added a second-place finish at the WGC-Cadillac Championship with an 11-under 277.
While Watson struggled in the WGC match play event and the Masters Tournament, he could use his disappointments to fuel a strong outing at TPC Louisiana. After all, he’s already won in this golf course. He can add a second Zurich Classic title with another strong performance.
Sleepers
Noh Seung-yul
Noh Seung-yul only has one PGA Tour win in his career. It came here in the 2014 Zurich Classic. Seung-yul had a strong performance at TPC Louisiana two years ago with a score of 19-under. The South Korean golfer hasn’t had much success on the PGA Tour. But he’s not too shabby with wins in the European and Asian Tours. If there’s a golfer that you can’t sleep on, it’s Seung-yul.
Billy Horschel
Another former champion enters this tournament in the form of Billy Horschel. He won the Zurich Classic in 2013 with a score of 20-under, just one stroke ahead of the field. Horschel has struggled recently, but he does hold wins in the PGA Tour. His last win came in 2014. He won The Tour Championship with an 11-under, beating Jim Furyk and Rory McIlroy by three strokes. He also won the BMW Championship that year.
Long Shot
Vijay Singh
2004 Zurich Classic champion Vijay Singh may not have much to offer in the twilight of his career. He’s missed the cut in three of his last five tournaments, and placed in the 60s in the two others. But he still has some fight left in him despite his struggles as a 53-year old on tour. Singh has a couple of top 10 finishes this year, placing sixth at the PGA Tour’s Honda Classic and eighth at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship in a Champions Tournament.
Writer’s Prediction
Bubba Watson wins his second Zurich Classic title.
