The PGA TOUR heads to Louisiana this week for the Zurich Classic. TPC Louisiana will be the host course, and measures as a 7,425-yard par 72, featuring Poa Trivialis overseeded greens.
The Zurich is the lone team event on the PGA TOUR schedule, which means the field will consist of 80 teams of two golfers, 33 of which will make the 36-hole cut. The first and third rounds will feature best-ball scoring, while the second and fourth rounds will be alternate shot.
This field is surprisingly good considering we are coming off the Masters and a Signature Event in back-to-back weeks. Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele will team up again for the fourth time, while Rory McIlroy is also in the field, teaming with fellow countryman Shane Lowry.
Below I have outlined my two favorite bets for the week.
Tom Hoge/Maverick McNealy to win (+2500)
This is one of those pairings that simply make a ton of sense. First of all, there are a lot of teams in the field this week where one of the two golfers are either not full-time PGA TOUR players, or simply do not possess the talent at this stage of their career to win a PGA TOUR event.
Both Hoge and McNealy do not have that issue, as both are legit, every-week grinders who can theoretically win any week they tee it up. I believe that’s a wrinkle that will be important at this event.
Now, the reason why this pairing makes sense is because both Hoge and McNealy mask each other’s biggest weaknesses. Hoge is arguably the iron-player not named Scottie Scheffler in the world right now, but has his issues both off-the-tee and (to a lesser extent) on the greens. McNealy is one of the game’s premier putters, and has had a really strong season off-the-tee, but still struggles mightily with his iron play.
During the alternate-shot rounds, being able to have McNealy hit every other tee shot and putt, while Hoge hits the approaches is an absolutely deadly combination. Both of these guys are having really strong seasons as well, with each posting a pair of top-10 finishes, while missing just one cut apiece in 2024.
At 25/1, I believe there is real value in backing a twosome whose games complement one another so well.
Taylor Moore/Matthew NeSmith to win (+6500)
Something else I look for in this event is guys who have played together before, and more specifically played well together before. Moore and NeSmith check that box in spades, as this pair has played the Zurich each of the past two years, while finishing T4 on both occasions. There is absolutely something to be said for having that type of team chemistry in a format like this, and it fully appears Moore and NeSmith have it.
In addition, Moore is playing some of the best golf of his career right now, having posted three top-20s over his past four starts, including a T2 at the Valero. NeSmith has not had that great of a season, but just made the cut and finished T43 in Punta Cana last week, and is not too far removed from his T26 performance at THE PLAYERS.
We saw Davis Riley and Nick Hardy win this event last year, so it’s absolutely clear a winner can be found in this range. With the course history these two possess in their two starts here, this 65/1 number is way too enticing to not take a flyer on.
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