The PGA TOUR heads to the Big Easy for this week’s tournament that features the biggest field of the season and some of the biggest variance of any week on the calendar. The Zurich Classic of New Orleans has been held at the TPC Louisiana each year since 2007, and in 2017 it switched from a standard individual event to this unique team format that gives players a chance to compete in 80 teams of two. The unique format makes things even wilder than normal since every player’s week is strongly impacted by their teammates play as well. It’s a fun week for head-to-head and double-up contests, though, and if you’re looking for fantasy golf cash game plays this week, check out Shane Lowry/Rory McIlroy ($12,400), Adam Hadwin/Nick Taylor ($8,600) and Davis Riley/Nick Hardy ($7,200).
Earlier on Wednesday, I broke down my top three pivot plays for tournament lineups at the Zurich Classic in a companion piece to this post. Those pivot plays for tournament lineups are more aggressive, while these three teams are generally safer options. While these options will likely have much higher ownerships, they still make good plays in contests where your lineup being unique is less important. Think of cash game picks as laying back and playing a par 5 as it was designed with three shots before reaching the green, looking for a solid birdie. Tournament picks are doing driver off the deck to try to reach the green in two–more reward if it works but much more risk as well.
So what are “cash games”? Usually, cash games pay to about the top half of entries. Typically, they are in the 50/50s & Double Ups or Head-to-Head sections of the DraftKings lobby. In this format, it’s important to minimize risk and raise the floor of your entry rather than focusing too much on the ceiling.
Last week, my cash game picks were Scottie Scheffler (T8), Denny McCarthy (T49), and Tom Hoge (T18).
With those ground rules set up, let’s dive deeper into my top three cash fantasy golf cash game plays for this week at the 2025 Zurch Classic.
Rory McIlroy/Shane Lowry ($12,400)
If this event was played in a typical format, there would be a strong case for these two golfers to be the top two or maybe two of the top three in the field. They both come in with very strong recent form, and on top of that, they’re the defending champions. There isn’t a safer play on the board.
Rory has won two of his last three events, winning at THE PLAYERS and the Masters before taking last week off. He was planning on passing on the RBC Heritage even before he completed his career grand slam in memorable fashion to weeks ago.
Last year, Lowry and McIlroy teamed up for the first time and opened with a blistering -11 in Best Ball. They needed a playoff to claim the win, but it was truly one of the signature moments in the history of the Zurich Classic.
Both players come in with great form. Lowry hasn’t won this year but is no slouch, making the cut in eight straight events, including six top-20 finishes. Rory leads the field in Total Strokes Gained, Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green and Strokes Gained: Ball Striking over the last 24 rounds, while Lowry ranks fourth in Total Strokes Gained and fifth in Strokes Gained: Approach.
There will be plenty of attention on the superstar pairing, but they should be fairly used to that at this point. They’re the overwhelming favorites coming into the event, and the safest option in your lineup for fantasy golf cash games.
Adam Hadwin/Nick Taylor ($8,600)
Another pair of countrymen that has found success in this format, this Canadian duo of Adam Hadwin and Nick Taylor is also a strong play for fantasy golf cash game lineups.
They have competed here twice, posting a runner-up finish in 2023 and finishing 10th last season. The two seem to feed off each other’s energy and function well as a unit. Even in shaky form, they have proven they can navigate this track and go low.
This year, Taylor comes in with some positive momentum dating back to his win at the Sony Open in Hawaii. He started the year on a great roll but hasn’t finished in the top 10 since the Genesis Invitational. Hadwin hasn’t been quite as good but has been solid overall, making seven of 11 cuts. He did post a top-10 at the WM Phoenix Open, so he does bring some spike upside.
The tandem may not have quite enough to tie to the top of the leaderboard, but their solid history and steady play makes them a good fit in fantasy golf cash game formats.
Davis Riley/Nick Hardy ($7,200)
When Hadwin and Taylor finished runner-up, the only team ahead of them was Davis Riley and Nick Hardy. Riley and Hardy finised T28 in their title defense last year and will look to team up and climb the leaderboard again this season.
Riley has been the star of this duo this season, posting top-10 finishes at the Puerto Rico Open and the Valspar Championship. He also played well at Augusta to finish T21 at the Masters before taking last week off (AKA the Rory plan). Before teaming up with Hardy for the win, Riley also finished T4 while playing with Will Zalatoris. Hardy also finished in the top 25 that seasin while teaming up with Curtis Thompson.
Hardy’s form this year, though, does cap this team’s upside. He has made the cut in just two of his 11 events this year, although one was last week at the Corales Puntacana Championship.
All the options under $8,000 have red flags, and Hardy’s is enough to give any fantasy golf cash game entry pause this week. However, I still think they stand out at this price point since they’ll likely find a way to make the cut and at least get to the weekend from this salary just over $7,000.
Set your DraftKings fantasy golf lineups here: PGA TOUR Single Entry $25 Double Up
