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PGA 2012 Zurich Classic of New Orleans Preview/Picks & Gambling Lines

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

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