PGA Betting – Zurich Classic Preview & Pick
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The warmer it gets across the continent, the better it feels to hit the links and of course, to bet on PGA golf. This week’s Zurich Classic takes place at the TPC Louisiana, a course that has rewarded many different types of players over the years.
Date: Thursday April 22 – Sunday April 25
Event: Zurich Classic of New Orleans
Course: TPC Louisiana, Avondale, Louisiana
Purse: $6,400,000
Defending Champ: Jerry Kelly
FedEX Cup Points Up For Grabs: 500
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The best strategy this week is to focus on the good putters, guys with good histories at the course and anyone playing well of late.
THE ELITE
Steve Stricker
Zurich Classic odds: +1215
This is a tailor-made tourney for Stricker, who makes his living beating up on so-so fields. The third-ranked player in the world has two top-11 finishes at TPC Louisiana over the last three years, ranks seventh on tour in scrambling and is always reliable with the putter. He deserves “elite” status this week.
THE CONTENDERS
Ian Poulter
Zurich Classic odds: +1415
I wouldn’t go as far as calling Poulter a trap pick – he was 13th at the Zurich Classic last year – but sportsbooks are inflating Poulter’s value a bit after his strong showing at the Masters. He has a knack for making clutch chips and putts but was just 71st in greens hit at last year’s tourney.
Charles Howell III
Zurich Classic odds: +2550
He’s definitely one of the top names to consider this week, especially since he offers double Stricker’s value. He finished second here last year and has six top-25 finishes in 2010. It’s only a matter of time before he gets back into the win column. 
SOLID PICKS
Steve Marino
Zurich Classic odds: +2550
Too bad – I was hoping Marino would fly more under the radar and offer better sportsbook value than Howell. But his scouting report looks great this week and sportsbooks have noticed. Marino has three straight top-15 finishes and five on the year. More importantly, he placed third at last year’s Zurich Classic (and third in putting). He’s an excellent play.
David Toms
Zurich Classic odds: +3250
The hometown hero pick hasn’t played good golf for about a year but did show signs of waking up with a T-14 finish at the Masters. His accurate iron approaches (20th in proximity to hole from 175-200 yards) give him a chance this week. In the end, though, if you’re betting on Toms, you’re really just taking a flier on a guy who may elevate his play in his home state.
THE SLEEPER
Pat Perez
Zurich Classic odds: +6550
Nice value! Now that’s a deep sleeper. Perez warrants consideration based on his peripherals. He’s eighth on Tour in greens in regulation, 10th in proximity to hole from 175-200 yards and 13th in sand saves. He was also a respectable 12th here last year.
THE PICK
I’m always quick to pick on Steve Stricker when he plays a high-profile tournament, claiming that he wilts against big-name rivals. Consequently, it’s only fair that I support Stricker now that he’s in his wheelhouse. I don’t believe anyone in this field can scare Stricker. It makes a ton of sense for him to do his thing and win this week.
Pick: Steve Stricker +1215
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One reply on “2010 PGA Zurich Classic Preview/Picks”
Sports betting players should know that only nine players have won the Zurich Classic of New Orleans twice, and there could be another player joining them this weekend after the 2010 edition of this event is held at the TPC of Louisiana, beginning on Thursday morning. Here is five golfers to keep an eye on.
Nick Watney: Watney won this event in 2007, and he has two top-10s in his last three starts, including a seventh-place result at the Masters. Watney is ninth in greens-in-regulation in eighth in birdies, so all he needs to do is find the fairway off the tee consistently to challenge for the title. Watney missed the cut here last year.
Jerry Kelly: Last year’s winner has been up and down lately, but if patterns mean anything, Kelly should push for a top-10 finish after coming in T-59 at Harbour Town last week. Last year heading into this event, he had a withdrawal, and then he missed three straight cuts, so if you’re really hot to bet Kelly, this is the week to do it.
K.J. Choi: Choi, the 2002 winner here, followed up his great Masters by shooting a 64 at Harbour Town on the first day, then he failed to break 72 for the rest of the week. Taking Choi would be like betting with Atlanta in the Bucks vs Hawks odds: he doesn’t do one thing great, but he does everything well, and against second-tier competition, Choi usually raises his game. Choi finished T-24 here last year.
Y.E. Yang: Again, another NBA betting comparison: Yang’s PGA Championship win last year was like picking Oklahoma City to beat the Lakers in the first round this year. Yang followed up his eighth-place finish at the Masters with a win in the Volvo China Open on the European Tour, and that can only help his confidence. Yang had a result of T-19 here last year.
Steve Stricker: The world’s No. 3 player finished 52nd at Bay Hill, and followed that up with a 30th-place finish at the Masters, so he needs a good finish to get some momentum back. Stricker came in T-7 here last year, tying the final-round score with a 67, and like Choi, he tends to play better in second-tier fields, although he has stepped up his game in the past couple of years. Given his place in the world golf rankings, Stricker should be the favorite in this event, or at least close to the top.
Pick: We’re going with Nick Watney to become the 10th golfer to win this event twice, and all he needs to be more consistent. His length off the tee gives him an advantage, he just needs to hit the greens to give him some birdie chances. Go with Nick Watney before you bet NBA playoffs.