PGA Betting – The 2012 Zurich Classic Predictions
The PGA TOUR heads to New Orleans this week where the TPC Louisiana plays host to the 2012 Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Some of the best golfers in the world will tee up in the first really competitive field since the Masters.
2012 Zurich Classic of New Orleans
Dates: April 23-29, 2012
Where: TPC Louisiana, Avondale, LA
Par/Yards: 72/7,341 yards
2011 champion: Bubba Watson
2012 Purse: $6,400,000/$1,152,000
FedExCup: 500 points to the winner
Format: 72-hole stroke play
The last two weeks have been entertaining but with the lack of marquee names, they just didn’t seem to have all that much intrigue.
Bubba Watson returns to defend his championship from last year in his first tournament since his historic score at Augusta. Runner up from last year Webb Simpson will also be there along with Steve Stricker, the long-overdue Keegan Bradley, Luke Donald and Justin Rose to name a few.
Let’s take a look at the quality field and those who should be there on Sunday looking for the $1.15 million first prize.
The Favorites:
Luke Donald 12/1
Donald is looking to remain on top of the World Golf standings this week and is the oddsmakers favorite to do just that. He is second on the PGA TOUR in Strokes Gained-Putting, 20th in adjusted scoring and 40th in the all-around and is a threat each and every time that he tees up at an event. Donald has played this event just one time – a T8 finish last year.
Bubba Watson 14/1
Watson, as mentioned is the defending champion at this event and obviously has the game to repeat. He leads the TOUR in distance off the tee, ranks second in greens hit and ninth in adjusted scoring – traits that make him very well suited for this course. He has finished top five in his last three PGA Tour starts and has a boat load of confidence after his historic win at Augusta. Will the pressure be too much?
Keegan Bradley 18/1
Bradley most recently finished T27 at the Masters – his first result outside the top 25 in 10 starts this season. He has yet to win this year despite being arguably the most consistent pro on TOUR and has shown well at TPC Louisiana. Bradley will be there on Sunday – it is just a matter of how close to the top he will finish.
The Contenders:
Webb Simpson 20/1
Could very well have won this tournament last year if not for a penalty on the 15th hole in the final round. He would eventually lose in a playoff to some up-and-comer named Bubba Watson. Simpson has been a tad disappointing so far this year however – zero top 35s in his last three starts but he loves this course and has obviously shown that he can manage the length and the tough greens.
Justin Rose 20/1
Rose finished T8 last time out in the Maters and has finished top 10 in three of his last five TOUR stops including a win at the Cadillac. He has struggled on this track recently however – two missed cuts and a T43 (2010) in his most recent trips to TPC Louisiana. He is top 5 on Tour in GIR percentage and scoring average and should have a legitimate shot this week.
Steve Stricker 25/1
Stricker has three top 15 finishes in his last four starts at TPC Louisiana and has a win on TOUR already this year – the season-opener at Kapalua. Stricker is 12th on TOUR in greens hit and 23rd in the all-around ranking and is a threat in every tournament he enters.
Jason Dufner 25/1
Dufner has three top 10s in his last three starts at this event and has finished inside the top 25 in his last four starts this season – consistent and very good! He ranks 32nd on TOUR in greens in regulation, 20th in adjusted scoring and eighth in the all-around ranking and like Keegan Bradley is overdue for a TOUR win.
Graeme McDowell 33/1
McDowell finished T12 in his last tournament – the Maters and has four top 15s in six starts on TOUR this year. His driving accuracy will serve him well in New Orleans and at 33/1 is an intriguing bet to win this week. He is currently 21st in greens in regulation and 11th in adjusted scoring.
Carl Pettersson 33/1
May be the hottest player on TOUR at the moment with a solo second in Houston and a five-stroke victory at Harbour Town. Pettersson is making a name for himself in a big way and should continue his strong play this week.
Peter Hanson 40/1
Hanson makes his first North American start since an impressive 3rd at the Maters and now has three straight top 5s on the PGA Tour. He shot a superb 65 in the final round of the Volvo China Open last week to finish T14 to boot!
Charles Howell III 40/1
Has played this event nine times and has made the cut every time – four times at TPC Louisiana including a T2 in 2009. He is currently 40th on the PGA TOUR in greens in regulation, 51st in Strokes Gained-Putting and 29th in the all-around.
The Sleepers:
Bud Cauley 50/1
Cauley is really coming on despite the lack of recognition. He has recorded top 20s in four of his last five starts, including a T18 at the Valero Texas Open where he ranked T8 in greens hit. TOUR Rookie and TPC Louisiana first timer Cauley is 51st on TOUR in GIR, 22nd in adjusted scoring and 28th in the all-around.
Cameron Tringale 66/1
I listed Tringale as a sleeper last week and he finished T8 for the second straight tournament. He is 16th on TOUR in total driving and 35th in both greens hit and Strokes Gained-Putting and he played well at this tournament last year – T18.
The Pick:
My pick this week is the classy Graeme McDowell 33/1. His game is perfectly suited for this course and his demeanor should serve him well on this tough track. McDowell is a class act and if karma has anything to do with it, he should do very well this week.
My sleeper is Cameron Tringale once 66/1 again. With two eighth place finished in a row, he is certainly due to break through in an event that he has fared well at.
2012 Zurich Classic of New Orleans Betting Lines & Future Odds
CLICK TO BET
Luke Donald | 11/1 |
Bubba Watson | 12/1 |
Keegan Bradley | 18/1 |
Justin Rose | 20/1 |
Webb Simpson | 20/1 |
Steve Stricker | 22/1 |
Jason Dufner | 25/1 |
Graeme McDowell | 28/1 |
Carl Pettersson | 28/1 |
Nick Watney | 28/1 |
Brandt Snedeker | |
Peter Hanson | 35/1 |
Charles Howell III | 35/1 |
Ernie Els | 35/1 |
David Toms | 50/1 |
John Senden | 50/1 |
Bud Cauley | 40/1 |
John Huh | |
K.J. Choi | 50/1 |
Rickie Fowler | 50/1 |
Ben Crane | 50/1 |
Geoff Ogilvy | 66/1 |
Cameron Tringale | 66/1 |
Harris English | 66/1 |
Brian Davis | 66/1 |
Kevin Streelman | 66/1 |
Matt Every | 66/1 |
Ben Curtis | 66/1 |
Jeff Overton | 50/1 |
Charley Hoffman | 66/1 |
Brian Gay | 66/1 |
Greg Chalmers | 66/1 |
Bryce Molder | 66/1 |
Retief Goosen | 66/1 |
Spencer Levin | 66/1 |
Ryan Palmer | 80/1 |
Jerry Kelly | 80/1 |
J.B. Holmes | 80/1 |
Scott Piercy | 80/1 |
Robert Karlsson | 80/1 |
Boo Weekley | 80/1 |
Pat Perez | 80/1 |
Chris Stroud | 80/1 |
John Rollins | 80/1 |
Trevor Immelman | 100/1 |
Angel Cabrera | 100/1 |
Camilo Villegas | 100/1 |
George Mcneill | 80/1 |
Seung-yul Noh | 80/1 |
Kris Blanks | 100/1 |
D-A Points | 100/1 |
Hunter Haas | 100/1 |
Lucas Glover | 125/1 |
Anthony Kim | 125/1 |
Brandt Jobe | 125/1 |
Bob Estes | 125/1 |
Billy Mayfair | 150/1 |
Blake Adams | 150/1 |
Brian Harman | 150/1 |
Jimmy Walker | 100/1 |
Chris Kirk | 100/1 |
Ricky Barnes | 100/1 |
Andres Romero | 100/1 |
Brendon De Jonge | 125/1 |
James Driscoll | 150/1 |
Vaughn Taylor | 150/1 |
Stephen Ames | 150/1 |
Jason Bohn | 125/1 |
Ken Duke | 150/1 |
Rod Pampling | 150/1 |
David Hearn | 150/1 |
Greg Owen | 150/1 |
Chez Reavie | 125/1 |
Tommy Gainey | 150/1 |
Harrison Frazar | 150/1 |
John Mallinger | 150/1 |
Scott Stallings | 150/1 |
Justin Leonard | 150/1 |
Nick O’Hern | 175/1 |
William Mcgirt | 175/1 |
J.J. Henry | 175/1 |
Tim Herron | 175/1 |
Nathan Green | 175/1 |
Colt Knost | 150/1 |
Bill Lunde | 200/1 |
Jeff Maggert | 200/1 |
Daniel Summerhays | 200/1 |
Chris Couch | 200/1 |
John Merrick | 200/1 |
Scott Verplank | 150/1 |
D.J. Trahan | 175/1 |
David Mathis | 150/1 |
Danny Lee | 175/1 |
Martin Flores | 200/1 |
Josh Teater | 200/1 |
Troy Matteson | 175/1 |
Cameron Beckman | 200/1 |
Graham Delaet | 200/1 |
Miguel Angel Carballo | 175/1 |
Briny Baird | 200/1 |
Chris Dimarco | 200/1 |