It’s a tough act to follow after back-to-back compelling showcases at The Masters and RBC Heritage, but the 2023 Zurich Classic at TPC Louisiana will try its best. Play gets underway from TPC Louisiana on Thursday, April 20. Cantlay and Schauffele are the 4-1 favorites in the 2023 Zurich Classic odds from Caesars Sportsbook. Homa and Morikawa are next in line on the PGA odds board at 17-2. With this weekends tournament being a team format, it makes the long shots a little more worth while, despite the two favorites being some of the premier players on Tour. The key to this weeks bets is value.
As Tony Perkins once said in the 90's film, Heavyweights, "Good morning, Campers. Today is evaluation day. The key word here is value. Do you have any? Not yet. But by the time camp is over, you will all be a bunch of skinny winners." I am feeling skinny Tony!
Top-10 Finish: Max Homa & Collin Morikawa
My Bet: +100 Best Available Odds: -120
This may be a Ryder Cup pairing audition for the California boys, especially with captain Zach Johnson onsite, so I expect these two to come motivated to put on a good showing together. There is a clear talent gap after this group and Schauffele/Cantlay, and in a field where less than 40 players will advance to the weekend, anything worse than top-10 would be a disappointment for these two. Side note, taking them to win outright as well.
Collin Morikawa/Max Homa (13/2): Both find themselves inside the top 15 of the Official World Golf Rankings. While on paper the two should gel, Homa's lack of quality since the Florida Swing may be cause for concern. He hasn't struck the ball well over the past month, and missed his first cut in 15 starts last week at Harbour Town. Morikawa's irons are capable of carrying the load, but his shortcomings on the greens may be emphasized in this format. Teaming up with Viktor Hovland in last year's proceedings, Morikawa was only able to muster together a T29 effort.
Top-10 Finish: Sahith Theegala & Justin Suh
My Bet: +220 Best Available Odds: +210
Another California duo with some promise, I believe Theegala & Suh have the best upside of any group outside of the top-5 favorites. Theegala’s elite scrambling gives this team a high floor in alternate shot, and this duo’s combined ball-striking prowess positions them well to post a pair of low rounds in Fourball.
David Lipsky & Aaron Rai Outright Winners
My Bet: +7000 Best Available Odds: +7000
My Spotlight duo of the week, Lipsky & Rai impressed in their Zurich Classic debut together last year with a T4 finish. Both players have shown the ability to flash for low rounds, which is always an encouraging sign in the Foursomes format, especially considering Aaron Rai is a week removed from setting the first round lead at the RBC Heritage. The proven past results, team chemistry, and profile fit for a birdie-makers course all present great upside for these odds.
Carson Young & Kyle Westmoreland Round 1 Leaders
My Bet: +10000 Best Available Odds: +10000
Carson Young, AKA Not Cameron Young, is a bona fide birdie maker, as displayed with finishes of T3 at the Puerto Rico Open and T19 at the RBC Heritage. His partner Kyle Westmoreland is one of the more volatile players in this field, who tends to negate all of his birdies with as many bogeys. Westmoreland’s blow up holes won’t hurt as much in this format, and if they can ham & egg properly, they have the tools to post a low number on Thursday.
Tournament Format:
The Zurich Classic will employ an alternating-round of four-ball and foursomes. Teams will begin in the four-ball format in Round 1 and utilize it again in Round 3 while foursomes — commonly referred to as alternate shot — will be used in Rounds 2 and 4.
Four-ball: Players from each team will play their own ball throughout the round with the best score between the two being used for each hole. If Schauffele makes par on No. 1 and Cantlay makes birdie, the team will record a birdie.
Foursome: Before the round begins, teams will determine which member will tee off on which holes. One player will be designated to strike the first tee shot on odd holes while the other will begin the even holes. If Cantlay strikes the tee shot on No. 1, Schauffele will take on the approach with Cantlay then hitting the third. This alternating will continue until the ball is holed. Even if Schauffele is the last to strike a shot on No. 1, he will hit the tee shot on the second hole in this instance.
Shout out @PardonMyTake, but let's stop calling @MaxHoma a #Pervert, and all just become #HomaSexuals