The world’s top golfers will head to Louisiana this week for the 2017 staging of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. There’s plenty of buzz and excitement surrounding this particular tournament, as organizers have introduced a new two-man-team format for the 69th edition of the event. The first and third rounds will be alternate shot (or foursomes) while the second and final rounds will be best ball (or four-ball).
Which pair will come out on top this week? Read on below for an in-depth breakdown of this prestigious event and while you’re at it, you can check out our sleeper picks for the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
Favorites – Jason Day/Rickie Fowler (+600) and Justin Rose/Henrik Stenson (+650)
One of the teams to watch this week is the pairing of Jason Day and Rickie Fowler. Day has an excellent track record in this tournament, averaging 67.43 in his last seven rounds at TPC Louisiana. Fowler, on the other hand, is in a rich vein of form, nabbing top-20 finishes in each of his last six starts. Look for these two golfing superstars to dominate this week.
The tandem of Day and Fowler, however, isn’t the only top-10 pairing competing at TPC Louisiana this week. Also teeing off in this tournament is the powerhouse duo of Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson. Both of these players are major champions and they finished 1-2 at last year’s Olympics. They know each other’s games pretty well with Rose and Stenson going undefeated in the 2014 Ryder Cup. Look for that experience to shine through in this event which Rose won by the way in 2015.
High-Value Sleepers – Branden Grace/Louis Oosthuizen (+1,200) and Jordan Spieth/Ryan Palmer (+1,000)
Another pairing that loves playing together is the South African duo of Branden Grace and Louis Oosthuizen. They went 4-0-0 in four-ball and foursomes at the 2015 Presidents Cup. That incredible chemistry is enough to overcome the fact that neither one of these golfers has ever played the Zurich Classic of New Orleans before. Grace has top-15s in each of his last two starts, while Oosthuizen has three top-25s in his last six PGA Tour starts.
One team that’s bound to make waves this week is the formidable duo of Jordan Spieth and Ryan Palmer. We all know the pedigree Spieth brings, with the Dallas native being a two-time major champion. Ryan Palmer, his fellow Texan, is no slouch either. He has top-15s in each of his last two events, tying for 11th at the RBC Heritage and tying for sixth at the Valero Texas Open. Palmer has more experience as well when it comes to playing at TPC Louisiana, with the 40-year-old bagging a fourth-place finish in the Zurich Classic back in 2012.
Long Shot – Brooks Koepka and Chase Koepka (+6,000)
Yes, Chase Koepka is ranked 1,460 in the world. He’s the lowest-ranked player in the 160-man field. That being said, this group still has a fighting chance because of the exceptional form of his brother Brooks. The elder Koepka has top-15s in each of his last three starts, including a runner-up finish at last week’s Valero Texas Open.
Writer’s Prediction
Jordan Spieth and Ryan Palmer (+1,000) reign supreme this week.
