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2014 PGA Zurich Classic of New Orleans Betting Odds Preview | Picks

Zurich Classic Betting

The PGA pros head to New Orleans this week to play the Zurich Classic – the seventh easiest par 72 on TOUR last year. TPC Louisiana will play 7,425 yards with plenty of scoring opportunities particularly on the par 4s and 5s.

2014 Zurich Classic of New Orleans
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Course: TPC of Louisiana
Date: Apr 24-27, 2014
Total Purse: US $ 6,800,000
Winner’s Share: US $ 1,152,000 (17% of total purse)
Golf Odds from Bovada

Defending Champion: Billy Horschel ($1,188,000)

Length off the tee will certainly be an asset this week – the winner will certainly have to go low – last year`s winner Billy Horschel finished -20. Accuracy off the tee along with distance is an asset as is the all-important Greens in Regulation stat. A hot putter is nice but a look back shows that putting isn`t an essential stat that leads to victory.

So who should we keep an eye on this week? Let`s break it down – pay attention I have hit on two winners the last five weeks – one being Matt Every at 80/1 and last week Matt Kuchar finally rewarded me..

The Favorites:

Justin Rose 12/1

Rose may be the biggest name to tee it up this week and his history on this track is certainly worthy of mention. He has a T10 and T15 in his last two appearances and has two top 15s in his last three starts overall. He enters off a T14 at the Masters looking for a 2014 breakthrough.

Keegan Bradley 18/1

Has missed the cut in his last two appearances here – amazing! He also missed the cut at the Masters and had a T43 in the start before that as well. Needless to say his current form isn`t quite “favorite worthy”.

Rickie Fowler 20/1

Fowler has risen from the ashes and is playing his best golf in a year! He had a T5 at the Masters and was sixth in his start prior to that. Fowler has played well on this track as well – a T26-T10-T32 in the last three years. He is definitely trending upward and is an interesting 20/1 this week.

The Contenders:

Graham DeLaet 22/1

I have loved this guy all year but he just can’t seem to get that elusive first win. He finished T4 here in 2012 and has five top 10s on TOUR this year. He is third in GIR, 22nd in par breakers and 21st in adjust scoring and his driving stats, up until recently had been in the top 10 on TOUR. He has the all around game to contend here and despite a missed cut at Augusta – he is more-than overdue!

Ryan Palmer 25/1

Has some Taylor-made start for this track – 15th in GIR on TOUR, 15th in driving distance, 16th in total driving, sixth in par 4 scoring average and seventh in par 5 scoring average. He was last seen finishing T7 in Houston and also made it to a playoff at the Honda a few weeks prior to that. He’s made five of his six cuts at TPC Louisiana, but his only top 30 was a T4 in 2012.

Matt Every 28/1

Is currently playing the best golf of his career – a missed cut at the Masters was the lone exception recently. He has seven top 15s in his last 13 starts overall and he did have a breakthrough win at Bay Hill a month ago. Every is sneaky good right now – a contender almost every week!
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Chris Stroud 33/1

Has played well on this track – three top 25s among the five of seven cuts he’s made. He has been just OK most recently on TOUR though – T31-T12-T48 in his last three starts overall. He isn’t that long off the tee but his ability to score on the par 5s should serve him well this week.

Patrick Reed 33/1

Let’s hope that the humble pie that has been forced down Reed’s throat has done him some good! He has played twice at TPC Louisiana resulting in a T24 and a MC but he is twice the golfer that he was in year’s past. He is a monster on par 5s which will surely be beneficial this week. His play has to catch up to his mouth – this may be a good spot to do so.

Russell Knox 33/1

He is trending upward ahead of this week – T43-T26-T9 in his last three starts overall. He has just one start here – a T30 in 2012. He did shoot a course record 64 here so he is another breakout candidate based on that.

Billy Horschel 40/1

Worthy of mention because he is the defending champion – present form has me scared off however.

Fredrik Jacobson 40/1

Has five straight op 20s entering this week and ranks fourth in strokes gained putting and 33rd in adjusting scoring. Jacobson has been knocking on the door and although I don’t like the price, I like his game.

John Senden 40/1

Has been playing very well – a win in the Valspar six weeks ago and a T8 at Augusta included. He has made five of six cuts on this track and has two top 15s along the way.

Kevin Stadler 40/1

Fell off on the weekend to a T38 at the RBC which followed a terrific T8 at the Masters. Stadler was T8 in this tournament last year and has some helpful stats for TPC Louisiana – 20th in GIR, 10th in total driving and 26th in adjusted scoring. If his putter shows up Stadler could be your champ!

Nick Watney 40/1

Won here in 2007, had a T20 in 2011 and a T15 last year but his current form leaves something to be desired – a T44 at the Masters was the last time we saw him. He is good tee-to-green but he surely isn’t getting the results at this point in time.

The Sleepers (50/1 or higher):

Rory Sabbatini 66/1

Finished T2 in this event in 2009 and is coming off a T9 at Harbour Town. He loves this track and has been playing very well of late.

Jonathan Byrd 90/1

Just a hunch! He has finished T12-T32-T19-T31 in his last four starts overall but had a missed cut here last year. Still, Byrd had a T12 on this track in 2008 and is playing his best golf in quite some time.

Retief Goosen 125/1

Super sleeper had a T7 at Houston and is beginning to look like the Goosen that we all know. His all around game is better than it has been in quite some time and he did finish T21 in this tournament last year.

The Pick:

I almost went with Ricky Fowler in this spot but he has had as many poor showings as good in his last six starts.

That said I am going with Graham DeLaet at 22/1. He is too good to not have won yet on TOUR and he did have a T4 on this track when he was just starting out. On a track that yields a ton of first time winners, take DeLaet!

My sleeper is Rory Sabbatini at 66/1. He is getting better as the season rolls along and he did have a T2 here five years ago.

In a tournament with less star power than usual, a sleeper could certainly emerge.

 

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By DaveB

Dave B has been a Fantasy Football writer for us for 10 years. A couch potato wannabe, Dave’s insights have been read by 10’s of people for years. He hope’s for world peace + global relaxation. Enjoy and remember only smoke things that are completely natural.