Zurich Classic of New Orleans betting tips

It’s one of the most unique tournaments of the year as the PGA Tour stars head to Avondale to take on TPC Louisiana. Scroll down for my Zurich Classic of New Orleans betting tips, but first…

• Also read: ISPS Handa Championship betting tips

Zurich Classic of New Orleans preview

Venue: TPC Louisiana, Avondale, Louisiana, USA

Date: April 20-23, 2023

Course stats: Par 72; 7,425 yards

Course summary: This track is a typical Pete Dye design, with accuracy vital to avoid the strategically placed bunkers and water hazards. Subtle changes in direction, including sharp dog legs, also give an additional premium to precision off the tee. Average-sized, fast Bermuda greens await the players – with plenty of risk and reward options for the brave among the players.

Format: This is a pairs event where the first and third rounds use a fourball format, while the second and final rounds use a foursomes format. The cut after round two is set at 33 teams and ties.

Purse: $8.6 million

Defending champion: Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay (-29)

TV coverage

Thursday: Sky Sports Golf from 8pm and Main Event from 10.15pm

Friday: Sky Sports Golf from 8pm

Saturday: Sky Sports Golf from 1.45pm

Sunday: Sky Sports Golf from 3.30pm

2023 Zurich Classic of New Orleans betting tips

The Banker: Sam Burns and Billy Horschel @ 16/1

I wasn’t going to play these two this week but on further investigation, I think it would be mad not to include Sam Burns and Billy Horschel, who have finished 2nd and 4th in their two starts together at the Zurich Classic. Returning as a team once more, the in-form Burns can keep the team going over the weekend and Horschel can capably contribute when Burns needs him to.

There is a lot of crossover between winners of this event and those that play well at another Pete Dye design at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play, and these two have both won that event. Burns won it this year and Horschel in 2021, and even when out of form, Horschel advanced from a group that included Keith Mitchell, Rickie Fowler, and the Masters winner, Jon Rahm.

Burns has won the WGC, finished 6th at the Valspar, gone into the weekend in 6th place at Augusta, and finished 15th last week with a Sunday 65, so he is bang in form. Horschel is struggling for form, but we know this multiple-tour winner can turn it around on a dime, especially on a course and in an event he loves.

Back them with confidence to at least place inside the top half a dozen this week.

The Each-Way Play: Kurt Kitayama & Taylor Montgomery @ 22/1

Kurt Kitayama and Taylor Montgomery are not just teaming up for the first time this week, their connection runs deep, going all the way back to their college days at UNLV. They have since paired up to win a local event in Vegas, which gave Montgomery the chance to get his own pro career off the ground, after initially struggling to make inroads.

Montgomery is the 3rd best putter on the PGA Tour this season and he also ranks 5th in Birdie or Better Percentage, so whilst his poor ball striking at times can see him lack consistency, he is certainly the volatile type that can score, which is why he ranks so highly in SG Total (23rd) this season.

Kitayama is the solid type who strikes the ball better than Montgomery and he can set up plenty of chances for his teammate in alternate shot and also score when Montgomery doesn’t in fourballs.

Both players put in strong performances in the Match Play recently, with Kitayama advancing from his group with a 4&3 win over Tony Finau and then beating Andrew Putnam 6&5 in the last 16, before losing on the final hole to Cameron Young in the quarters. Montgomery didn’t make it out of his group, but he did beat Jordan Spieth and Shane Lowry on the way and I was impressed with both that week.

The Other Each-Way: Sam Ryder & Doc Redman @ 50/1

This one is a bit left-field, but so was their 3rd place finish as a pairing here last year, and my theory is they could go close again, given Sam Ryder is in far better form than he was when they pegged it up here 12 months ago.

Doc Redman probably isn’t which may be the key, but he wasn’t exactly pulling up trees last year either, and with his 16th place finish at the Valspar recently he has at least shown a lease of life. On top of that Ryder is playing the most consistent golf of his career, which has led to a career-high world ranking.

Ryder has three top-eight finishes this season, including a 3rd at the Valero Texas Open recently. When T4 at Torrey Pines he led an elite field for three days before running out of steam on the Sunday, but not to sulk, he then finished T20 at the Phoenix Open and Genesis Invitational, two more elevated events. Ryder is playing better than ever and Doc Redman is clearly a partner he trusts, so why not give them a chance to finish even better than last year at 50-1?

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