This week on the PGA Tour, things are shaking up in New Orleans for the Zurich Classic. It's not your usual golf tournament – here, players team up in pairs for some stroke play action, something you won't see at other events. With a whopping 80 teams getting ready to tee off, this is the biggest lineup on the PGA Tour!

 

 

 

Zurich Classic 2024 Tournament

The fun starts with a four-ball round, where both players take a swing and then pick the best shot to continue until the hole's done. Then it's on to the foursomes, where teammates take turns hitting the ball. After a cut to the top 33 teams and ties, it's all about sticking to the same sequence for the next rounds.

DraftKings is getting in on the action with a unique DFS game just for this event, while FanDuel and Yahoo are giving it a miss. But if you're up for some fantasy golf, here's the lowdown on DraftKings: you can't pick both players from the same team. Each pair's players come with the same price tag and earn the same points, so choose your PGA DFS picks wisely!

TPC Louisiana: Course Breakdown & Field

TPC Louisiana, designed by Pete Dye, offers varied holes and scoring potential, with low scores possible in favorable weather. In 2015, Justin Rose won with a remarkable -22, typical of the high teens or better scores in stroke play. The course's par 5s offer excellent birdie chances, with most reachable in two shots except for the long 18th. Short par 4s, including the drivable 16th, add to scoring opportunities. 

During best ball rounds, these shorter holes become must-birdies, fostering aggressive play and numerous eagles. Despite water hazards and bunkers, accuracy off the tee isn't crucial due to wide fairways and minimal rough. Higher-than-average driving accuracy and Greens in Regulation (GIR) percentages are common. The Bermuda greens, softer due to Louisiana's humidity, favor long-range putts, with many birdie putts holed from 20 feet and in. 

Notably, skilled putters like Billy Horschel, Kevin Kisner, Cameron Smith, and Jonas Blixt have excelled since the event shifted to a team format.

 

 

 

PGA DFS Picks: Top 10 Pairings This Weekend

Xander Schauffele & Patrick Cantlay ($11,200)

It’s hard not to love these two besties. They won in 2022 and finished Top 5 in 2023. They may be the most boring dudes on tour, but they play fantastic golf especially together.  Cantlay finished Top 10 and Schauffele finished Top 25 at the RBC Heritage last weekend but neither player has a victory this season.

Sahith Theegala & Will Zalatoris ($10,300)

Watching Sahith Theegala and Will Zalatoris team up during a Masters practice round was a treat. They're like a perfect match, with easy banter and a real camaraderie. On the course, they're both playing solid golf. 

Zalatoris nailed a top-10 finish at the Masters, showing off his long-iron skills. Theegala also on fire, scoring second place at the Heritage and bringing some serious putting game. They did well last year, finishing T4, and they're still the ones to watch. They've got it all – past success, current form, and a genuine friendship. They're the dream team, no doubt.

Tom Hoge & Maverick McNealy ($9,400)

Even though it's their first time teaming up, both players have a lot to gain from this partnership and the course. McNealy's iron game usually shines on Pete Dye courses and other TPC setups, like when he finished T6 at TPC Scottsdale earlier this season. And Hoge's good with irons, especially on courses that focus on approach shots. 

Despite a stumble in the final holes last week, he did pretty well overall. The team looks solid. McNealy, known for his putting skills in the PGA, will surely get a boost playing alongside Hoge, who's second in strokes gained approach stats over the past 24 rounds. 

Hoge showed his stuff last season at this event, teaming up with another good putter, Harris English, although they slipped up in the final round, shooting 73 in alternate shot format. But with Hoge's recent strong play and McNealy scoring two top 10 finishes in his last five starts, this team could easily match or even surpass Hoge's last partnership success.

Nick Taylor & Adam Hadwin ($9,200)

Last year, these two Canucks teamed up for the first time and rocked the Bayou, landing a solid runner-up spot with a killer 63 in the final round's alternate shot. I'm betting on this all-Canadian duo to bring the heat once more. They thrive in easy scoring conditions and on those lush Bermuda greens. 

Plus, Taylor's already snagged a win this year on a course just like the one in Scottsdale. And Hadwin? He's still rocking it as the top player at PGA West. With their knack for these courses, Hadwin and Taylor are set to make waves again in New Orleans.

Collin Morikawa & Kurt Kitayama ($10,000)

Scottie Scheffler's break allows the spotlight to shine on Collin Morikawa, hot off his third-place Masters finish and ninth place at the RBC Heritage. Partnering with Kurt Kitayama, winner of the 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational, Morikawa aims to capitalize on Kitayama's consistent season –nine cuts made in 10 events, all resulting in top-40 finishes. 

Kitayama's strong Strokes Gained: Off the Tee and Strokes Gained: Approach stats make him an ideal partner. This weekend marks their debut as a duo, and they're poised to leverage their current form for a shot at victory.

Tyson Alexander & Billy Horschel ($8,900)

So, Horschel's been a champ here on his own and with a buddy. He's teamed up with a few different folks, and they've all done pretty well. He and Sam Burns teamed up for the last three years, snagging 11th, second, and fourth places—not bad, considering Burns wasn't always at the top of his game. 

Oh, and Horschel also nailed a win with Piercy back in 2018. Plus, he's riding high after winning at Puntacana. Alexander debuted last year with Carl Yuan but missed the cut. Sorry to the Yuan fam, but Alexander's definitely stepped up his game this year.

Corey Conners & Taylor Pendrith ($9,500)

It's been a while since Conners teed off here—five years, to be exact. Pendrith, on the other hand, made a savvy move by trading in Gligic for Conners after their solid 13th-place finish last year. Pendrith started the season hot with two top-10 finishes in his first three outings but then hit a rough patch. Still, he bounced back with an 11th-place tie in Puntacana. 

This Canadian duo has all the upside you want for a 9K price tag. Conners is a ball striking savant while Pendrith is a whiz with the putter, it could make for a deadly combination. 

Andrew Novak & Davis Thompson ($8,100)

Andrew Novak and Davis Thompson, both PGA Tour contenders, are poised for their breakthrough win at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Skilled in ball-striking, they've come close before but haven't sealed the deal. 

This event provides the perfect platform for rising players like them to shine. Novak and Thompson boast well-rounded games, making them a formidable duo. Just like past winners, they could use this opportunity to make their mark and secure their first victory. Keep an eye on them—they might just steal the show this weekend.

Matthew NeSmith & Taylor Moore ($7,700)

Picking Taylor Moore and Matthew NeSmith for this course is a no-brainer, considering they've both nailed fourth place in the last couple of years at this event. Right now, Moore seems to be on fire, coming off a second-place tie with Scottie Scheffler in Houston and a solid top-20 finish at the Masters. 

NeSmith, though he's had a bit of a rough patch in 2024, still knows how to hit those greens like a champ, just missing out on a top-25 finish at THE PLAYERS (he landed T26). With so many new pairings yet to prove themselves, it's a bit surprising to find such a reliable duo available at such a bargain price.

Chandler Phillips & Jacob Bridgeman ($7,400)

It's all about the numbers when it comes to Chandler Phillips and Jacob Bridgeman. Phillips has been showing some great skills this year, landing third place at the Valspar Championship and two other top-25 finishes. 

On the flip side, Bridgeman made a mark on the Korn Ferry Tour last year and just snagged 23rd place at Corales, marking his fourth top-30 finish in his last six starts.

 

 

 

Player Pool

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