Patrick McDonald labeled Chad Ramey and Justin Lower his LONG SHOT of the week at triple-digit odds. Ramey finished runner-up here last year, proving he can handle the quirky best-ball/alternate-shot rotation at TPC Louisiana. McDonald pointed out that both players rank inside the Tour’s top 25 in SG: Putting for 2025, giving them the ability to ‘mask average ball-striking with a hot flatstick.’ While the pair may bleed strokes tee-to-green, McDonald thinks the four-ball rounds set up perfectly for a putting barrage, similar to the 62 Ramey fired on Saturday in 2024. With the outright number hovering around 110-1 and a top-10 priced at 9-1, he recommended sprinkling exposure in both markets, hoping they ride a heater on the greens.

Shane Bacon tagged the Fitzpatrick brothers as his top SLEEPER team. He argued that shared DNA translates to built-in alternate-shot chemistry—both know each other’s yardage numbers and green preferences from countless practice rounds back home. While the duo has generally hovered around T-14 at previous Zurich editions, Bacon believes motivation is higher this year because Alex is fighting to secure full Tour status and Matt wants the rare chance to win alongside his younger brother. Matt’s elite driving accuracy (4th on Tour) paired with Alex’s streaky putting (gained 7.2 strokes on the greens at the Dominican) creates a balanced profile for the best-ball rounds. Priced at 55-1, Bacon feels they’re the kind of quietly consistent team that can sneak into a Sunday back-nine chase.

Shane Bacon officially picked Doug Ghim and Chan Kim to win, doubling down on the long-shot case he made earlier in the show. Bacon reiterated that Ghim ranks 12th in Total SG over the last eight weeks, while Kim sits 15th in driving distance at 312 yards. He likes that Ghim’s elite iron play (8.1 SG: Approach across his last three events) can attack tucked pins during four-ball, and Kim’s power can set up wedges in alternate-shot, giving them two distinct ways to go low. Bacon also emphasized team chemistry, noting both players are hungry for a first PGA Tour win and could ‘push each other’ down the stretch. The 60-1 outright number still available at several shops is, in his words, ‘criminally mis-priced’ for a duo with this statistical profile.

Patrick McDonald placed Wyndham Clark and Taylor Moore on his CAN’T-WIN list, citing multiple red flags surrounding Clark’s health and swing. McDonald said he has 'heard murmurs' that Clark is tweaking his move with new instructors and battling lingering back tightness—two issues that have historically sapped Clark’s driving speed when they crop up. In alternate-shot rounds both players must pull their weight, and McDonald doubts Clark can generate his usual distance advantage if he is managing pain. He also noted Moore has lost strokes off-the-tee in three consecutive starts, so the pairing lacks a reliable ball-striking floor. With the betting market still hanging mid-20s outright prices because Clark is a major champion, McDonald advised fading them in outrights and head-to-head matchups.

Patrick McDonald said the Keith Mitchell–J.T. Poston partnership is firmly in his CAN-WIN bucket. McDonald called Mitchell the 'Thursday savant,' noting that Mitchell has either led or co-led after Round 1 in four of his last six PGA Tour starts this season. That early scoring punch is especially valuable at TPC Louisiana because the opening round is four-ball, allowing a hot player to post a low number without ruining his partner’s card. McDonald added that Poston’s putter (6th on Tour in SG: Putting for 2025) can keep the team afloat once the format flips to alternate shot, where steady short-game work often salvages pars. He believes that combination—Mitchell’s explosive tee-to-green starts plus Poston’s weekend putting—gives the duo real outright equity at 40-1 and makes them live in FRL markets as well.

Drew Stoltz said the Aaron Rai–Sahith Theegala duo is his favorite value on the Fanatics Sportsbook board at +210 to record a top-10 finish at the Zurich Classic. Stoltz is discounting recent individual results because the tournament’s alternating best-ball/alternate-shot structure rewards complementary skill sets. Rai’s name keeps popping near the top of every ball-striking leaderboard—he is gaining strokes both off the tee and on approach and sits among the Tour’s most accurate drivers—traits Stoltz believes are priceless on Friday’s alternate-shot round where a single errant tee ball can sink a team. Theegala brings the short-game magic, ranking as one of the Tour’s best scramblers and putters inside 10 feet, giving the pair a safety net when irons do go wayward. Stoltz concluded that pairing elite accuracy with an imaginative short game is the exact recipe that produced past Zurich contenders, making the +210 price a bargain compared to more public teams listed near +1200.

Patrick McDonald put Wyndham Clark and Taylor Moore on his "can’t‑win" list, citing multiple red flags that outweigh their raw talent. He’s heard "murmurs" that Clark is tinkering with swing changes and simultaneously dealing with back issues—never a great combo in the swampy New Orleans heat where four‑hour rounds stretch even healthy bodies. Because alternate‑shot rounds punish any loose swings or shortened turn, McDonald expects the duo’s variance to spike downward. He is steering listeners away from outrights, top‑10 props, and two‑ball DFS exposure, recommending instead that bettors seek plus money to fade them in Thursday best‑ball head‑to‑heads before Clark’s health questions fully circulate in the market.

Patrick McDonald identified Keith Mitchell and J.T. Poston as a live mid‑tier outright bet at the Zurich, arguing their skill sets mesh perfectly with the event’s format rotation. Mitchell has become a "Thursday savant," leading or co‑leading after Round 1 in several 2024 starts thanks to explosive driver play that shines in best‑ball. Poston, meanwhile, ranks among the Tour’s steadiest putters and can "keep them afloat" through the alternate‑shot grind over the final 54 holes. McDonald believes Mitchell’s early scoring can vault the team onto the front page, while Poston’s flatstick shores up any tee‑to‑green leaks. He advised sprinkling on their outright number and using them as a contrarian DFS stack when public rosters gravitate to higher‑priced super‑teams like Rory/Lowry.

Patrick McDonald said bettors should short Collin Morikawa in outright and DFS captain markets at the Zurich Classic because Kurt Kitayama’s 2024 form is dragging the pairing’s ceiling to the floor. McDonald reminded listeners that Kitayama has yet to record a single top‑30 finish this calendar year despite a "solid fall," making him one of the coldest ball‑strikers in the field. Morikawa might be, in McDonald’s words, “the second‑best player here behind Rory,” but foursomes formats magnify the weaker partner and leave little room for Morikawa to mask Kitayama’s struggles. McDonald filed the duo under his "better off playing his own ball" category and advised fading them in head‑to‑head team matchups and removing Morikawa from DFS cores unless salaries dramatically fall.

Shane Bacon circled Doug Ghim and Chan Kim as his favorite outright stab at the Zurich Classic, calling them a "hungry" duo that only needs to play "60‑70 percent really good golf" to hoist the trophy in an event where elite teams often underperform. Bacon pointed to Ghim’s recent ball‑striking surge—four straight made cuts with positive strokes‑gained approach—and Kim’s knack for streaky birdie runs in best‑ball settings. In alternate‑shot rounds, he expects Ghim’s above‑average driving accuracy to give Kim green‑light iron numbers, minimizing big numbers. Because most bettors are flocking to Rory/Lowry and other headline pairings, Bacon views Ghim/Kim as perfect DFS leverage and suggested grabbing an outright before their number gets clipped by sharp money late Wednesday.

Shane Bacon highlighted the pairing of Thomas Detry and Robert MacIntyre as his favorite outright bet at the Zurich Classic, calling them a classic sleeper team that fits the event’s unpredictable profile. Bacon noted that the Zurich rarely crowns the most star‑studded duo—“the best teams don’t win these events that often”—and believes Detry’s consistent ball‑striking combined with MacIntyre’s streaky scoring upside create a high‑ceiling partnership. He framed them as a live outright wager and a core GPP stack for DFS players who want leverage on a week where public money is flocking to the Rory‑Lowry super‑team.

Brian Kirschner laid -125 on Mitchell/Poston for a Top‑20 finish, calling them one of the field’s most balanced teams. Both are fresh off top‑11 results (Mitchell T2, Poston T11), Mitchell brings prior Zurich experience, and their contrasting strengths—Mitchell’s driving with Poston’s approach/putting—provide multiple paths to a steady finish even if one facet misfires.

John Schwarb fired on Poston/Mitchell at +2500 for First‑Round Leader. Mitchell tops the PGA Tour in opening‑round scoring average (67.1) and owns two career top‑6s at this event, while Poston is coming off a T11 at the RBC Heritage. Schwarb also likes the intangible chemistry of the "Sea Island Mafia" pals, which he says passes the Zurich’s ‘friends’ test that has mattered historically in team play.

MacMillan’s favorite longshot is the Korean pairing of Si Woo Kim and Sangmoon Bae at +9000. He views Kim’s volatility as an asset in the best‑ball portions and notes Kim’s T8 at last week’s RBC Heritage signals peak form. While Bae’s recent stats are shaky, MacMillan thinks the veteran can provide enough stability for Kim to attack flags and generate eagle opportunities, giving the duo surprise upside.

Brian Giuffra wagered on Keith Mitchell and J.T. Poston at +1900, citing data that fits this course’s scoring profile. Poston is 64th in SG: Approach and 47th in birdie average (4.07), while Mitchell sits 4th in SG: Off‑the‑Tee and 19th in birdie average (4.32). Giuffra stressed that birdies and driving accuracy are paramount at TPC Louisiana and believes Poston’s consistency can help Mitchell erase late‑round closing woes.

Brian Kirschner jumped on Max Greyserman and Nico Echavarria at +4000, pointing out they finished T4 here last season when both were in far worse form. Across the last 50 rounds Greyserman ranks 1st and Echavarria 17th on Tour in total birdies, a key stat for two best‑ball rounds. Kirschner thinks their proven comfort at TPC Louisiana and elite birdie‑making profile make them a sneaky outright threat.

John Schwarb grabbed Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin at +3500, reminding bettors that the all‑Canadian tandem finished 10th here last year and solo second in 2023. Although their recent individual form is lukewarm, Schwarb believes their proven synergy in this event—plus Taylor’s ability to catch fire with the putter—gives them real Sunday‑afternoon win equity at a healthy price.

Iain MacMillan backed Aaron Rai and Sahith Theegala at +2500 to win the Zurich Classic, arguing their games dovetail perfectly for this best‑ball/alternate‑shot event. Rai ranks among the most accurate drivers on Tour, giving Theegala freedom to unleash his higher‑ceiling iron play and imaginative short game. Both arrive in form after top‑30 finishes at the Masters two weeks ago, something MacMillan views as a strong indicator they can contend immediately in New Orleans’ team format.

Brandon Gdula noted that if he dials down the extra variance he normally injects for the Zurich’s two rounds of alternate shot and treats TPC Louisiana like a standard stroke‑play event, the Collin Morikawa‑Kurt Kitayama team grades out fairly at 12‑to‑1. In that reduced‑volatility scenario their combined six‑month true strokes‑gained profile—driven by Morikawa’s elite irons and Kitayama’s streaky distance—puts them on par with what his model would label break‑even odds. Gdula still prefers value plays further down the board because he believes the format inherently increases randomness, but he told listeners that backing Morikawa‑Kitayama is defensible for anyone who thinks the market has already priced in enough chaos.

Jim Sannes said the only additional outright he would consider this week is the Ryan Gerard‑Danny Walker ticket at 55‑to‑1. Sannes explained that when you limit yourself to two outrights per card the number has to carry genuine win equity, and Gerard‑Walker are the only longshot duo that still fits his value threshold. He prefers them over the shorter‑priced Morikawa‑Kitayama pairing because 12‑to‑1 does not compensate for the Zurich’s baked‑in volatility. Gerard‑Walker average positive strokes gained both tee‑to‑green and with the putter over the last 50 rounds, have two top‑10 finishes apiece in that span, and give Sannes the balanced profile he wants for the alternate‑shot rounds. In a field with one clear favorite and a murky mid‑tier, he believes the 55‑to‑1 number more than covers the risk and could help him re‑open a lead in his season‑long betting contest with Brandon Gdula.

Jim Sannes endorsed a top‑10 wager on Aaron Rai and Sahith Theegala at +260. Rai’s rock‑solid ball‑striking—10th tee‑to‑green over the last 50 rounds—gives the pairing a high floor for alternate‑shot holes. Theegala ranks just 58th tee‑to‑green but provides the explosive putting and birdie streaks needed to spike in best‑ball. Averaged together they sit 11th in true strokes gained, yet their top‑10 price is longer than several less balanced pairings. Sannes likes that Rai’s accuracy mitigates Theegala’s volatility, while Theegala’s aggressive putter can finally unlock Rai’s overdue positive regression on the greens. His sims make them +215 to crack the top 10, so the +260 ticket carries clear value for bettors who want exposure without paying the 25‑1 outright number.

Brandon Gdula flagged Doug Ghim and Chan Kim at +160 for a top‑20 as a classic tee‑to‑green play. The duo ranks tied for 11th in the entire field in combined tee‑to‑green strokes gained the last 50 rounds, and their blended iron numbers sit fifth—trailing only the McIlroy, Morikawa and Horschel super‑teams. Ghim alone is 11th tee‑to‑green in that span; Kim chips in with 26th‑ranked approach and 37th around‑the‑green. Both are sub‑100 putters, capping outright ceiling, but Gdula argued the Zurich’s two best‑ball rounds mean extra birdie chances if their irons stay hot. His simulation makes them +125 for a top‑20, so the posted +160 represents enough cushion to overlook the flat sticks and ride elite ball‑striking instead.

Brandon Gdula recommended betting Ryan Gerard and Danny Walker for a top‑10 finish at +450. They are one of only four teams whose average strokes gained tee‑to‑green AND putting both rank inside the top‑20 over the last 50 rounds, the others being McIlroy‑Lowry, Clark‑Moore, and Horschel‑Hoge. Gerard supplies elite recent form—top‑13 in both approach and putting—and flashed upside with a runner‑up at Valero and 9th in Houston. Walker adds the distance Gerard lacks and sits 31st in approach over that same window. Gdula’s variance‑adjusted model shows both golfers ranking top‑30 in strokes gained plus standard deviation, signaling ceiling in best‑ball and enough consistency for alternate‑shot. At 55‑1 outright the market is sleeping on them, but Gdula prefers the safer plus‑450 top‑10 where their balanced profile offers a strong edge.

Jim Sannes said the only outright ticket he is punching this week is the McIlroy‑Lowry pairing at +360. Averaging each golfer’s true strokes‑gained over the past six months produces a field‑crushing +2.32 mark; no other duo even cracks +1.20. That 1.1‑stroke per‑round cushion over a large sample gives them room to attack aggressively in best‑ball sessions while still surviving alternate‑shot blemishes. Sannes acknowledged the usual negatives—Masters hangover, back‑to‑back variance, short price—but noted +360 still implies just a 22% win probability in a format where their ceiling dwarfs everyone else’s. He is willing to accept the thin margin of error because the chemistry narrative, recent form and statistical gulf all tilt the event toward McIlroy and Lowry more than the market suggests.

Brandon Gdula backed Aaron Rai and Sahith Theegala at 25‑to‑1, noting his simulations make them 22‑to‑1 fair odds. Rai ranks 10th in the field in tee‑to‑green strokes gained over the last 50 rounds while Theegala sits 58th yet brings explosive scoring stretches. Averaged together, the tandem is 11th overall in true strokes gained, giving them both a high baseline and ceiling in the best‑ball portions. Gdula argued that Rai’s steady ball‑striking can steady Theegala’s volatility, and Theegala’s aggressive putting could unlock Rai’s long‑overdue positive regression on the greens. In a format that rewards birdie runs and tolerates occasional blow‑ups, he believes the steady‑plus‑wildcard combo is perfectly suited to steal the Zurich at a value price.

Brandon Gdula warned listeners to pass on the 12‑to‑1 outright number for Collin Morikawa and Kurt Kitayama. Gdula said the price still bakes in Morikawa’s elite profile while ignoring that Kitayama’s ball‑striking has cratered over the past two months. Kitayama has slipped outside the top‑80 in both strokes‑gained off‑the‑tee and approach during his last 20 measured rounds, turning what was once a balanced pairing into a lopsided one. When Gdula runs his six‑month true strokes‑gained averages through his win‑sim model, the duo should be closer to 15‑to‑1, leaving no edge at current odds. He added that alternate‑shot amplifies the weaker partner’s flaws, making Kitayama’s slump an automatic red flag in a high‑variance two‑round‑before‑the‑cut setup.

Brandon Gdula flagged Thomas Detry and Robert MacIntyre as a live mid‑tier outright option. The duo sits at +0.96 true strokes gained per round over the past three months—good for third‑best in the field behind only McIlroy‑Lowry and Mitchell‑Poston. They quietly finished 8th here in their Zurich debut last year, showing they can navigate both alternate‑shot and best‑ball formats. Because both players contribute positive strokes gained across the bag, Gdula’s model rates them as one of the more balanced teams, reducing the blow‑up risk that sinks many pairings. With sportsbooks hanging much longer odds than the star pairings above them, Gdula believes Detry‑MacIntyre offer the best combination of current form and price for bettors seeking upside without paying superstar juice.

Brandon Gdula acknowledged that Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry boast by far the best recent form—averaging +2.42 true strokes gained per round over the past three months, nearly 1.5 shots better than any other tandem. Even after bumping event variance 0.15 strokes per round in his win‑sims to account for alternate‑shot volatility and the top‑33‑plus‑ties cut, McIlroy‑Lowry still graded out as clear favorites. However, Gdula will not bet them at the current +360 outright number. He reminded listeners that the Zurich remains a full‑field, high‑variance event where the defending champs needed a playoff last year. With only two rounds before the cut, one poor alternate‑shot session could torpedo the ticket. Gdula prefers to let others eat the thin price and look for value further down the board.

Jim Sannes told listeners to stay away from the Charlie Hoffman‑Nick Watney pairing despite their seven straight appearances at TPC Louisiana. Sannes noted they have made six cuts and logged five top‑25s, but current form is a disaster. Over the last 50 rounds only Hoffman ranks inside the top‑115 in total strokes gained (48th) while Watney sits well outside that range. When Sannes averaged their six‑month strokes‑gained data, the team falls near the bottom of his model. Given the 400‑to‑1 outright price at FanDuel and the event’s alternate‑shot format that doubles the impact of a weak partner, he advised fading any nostalgia‑driven bets on their chemistry and focusing on duos showing positive recent ball‑striking instead.

Matt Gannon added Jackson Suber and Pierceson Coody at 90‑to‑1, labeling them the classic Zurich flyer. Suber just closed T8 on the KFT while averaging 6.1 birdies per round, and Coody opened 67‑65 at Corales before fading—proof he can torch easy setups. Both sit top‑5 in Korn Ferry’s par‑5 scoring, giving them extra bite on TPC Louisiana’s reachable 2nd, 7th and 18th. Gannon likes that they came through Texas junior golf together and know each other’s tendencies, easing alternate‑shot nerves. With few TOUR data points, books have parked them among true longshots, but Matt believes two hot putters could vault them onto the first‑page leaderboard, so he paired the outright with a top‑20 at +450.

Gannon’s favorite positional bet is Will Gordon and Korn Ferry rookie Matthew Riedel at +350 for a top‑20. He repeatedly sees the two grinding practice rounds together on TOUR, an underrated signal of comfort that should pay dividends in alternate‑shot chaos. Gordon’s profile is perfect for TPC Louisiana—top‑30 in both SG:Off‑the‑Tee and birdie rate over his last 24 rounds—while Riedel has quietly gained on approach in four straight KFT starts. Matt reminded listeners that 30 teams make the weekend, meaning a simple made‑cut cashes half the ticket. With both players needing FedEx points to secure status, he expects four aggressive rounds rather than paycheck golf and will sprinkle a small outright for additional upside.

Dom Cintorino earmarked Antoine Rosner and Kristoffer Ventura for a +650 top‑10 ticket. The appeal is simple: they both “mash it,” ranking top‑15 in driving distance on their respective tours, giving them multiple eagle looks in best‑ball. Rosner’s putter is notoriously streaky—he led the DP World circuit in SG:Putting for a two‑month stretch last spring—while Ventura once gained 9.4 strokes tee‑to‑green alongside Viktor Hovland in this exact event. Dom thinks that past comfort at TPC Louisiana plus Rosner’s recent T12 in Qatar signals they have form. With 30 teams making the cut, he prefers the safer top‑10 rather than chasing a triple‑digit outright but still believes they can contend if Ventura’s driver behaves.

Cintorino closed his outright card with Ryo Hisatsune and Takumi Kanaya at 80‑to‑1, arguing bookmakers are sleeping on their global résumé. Hisatsune has rattled off three top‑10s in his last eight PGA starts while gaining strokes both off‑the‑tee and with the putter each time—proof his ceiling travels. Kanaya, a former No.1 amateur, quietly ranks top‑5 on the DP World Tour in birdie or better percentage since January. Dom believes their contrasting strengths—Ryo’s consistency, Takumi’s occasional heater rounds—make them tailor‑made for Zurich’s format. He added that both posted sub‑64 rounds at last fall’s Dunlop Phoenix, showing they can go nuclear in soft, windless conditions similar to early‑week forecasts. At 80‑1, he will pair the outright with top‑20 props for extra exposure.

Dom Cintorino fired on former Stanford teammates Michael Thorbjornsen and Carl Vilips at 50‑to‑1 with a top‑6 each‑way. He called the grouping “appointment television” after seeing they’ll share early‑round tee times with Tom Hoge & Sahith Theegala, predicting a fireworks best‑ball session where both sides push each other. Thorbjornsen finally flashed his elite amateur form with a top‑15 SG:Approach week in Houston, and Vilips owns a 63 at TPC Louisiana from an NCAA sectional, confirming course comfort. Dom thinks two rounds of pure best‑ball let their aggressive tendencies shine—both average north of 4.5 birdies per competitive round on developmental tours. While acknowledging their Friday implosion last year, he framed that volatility as a positive for outrights: “they might shoot 61 or 80, but the ceiling wins tournaments in this format.”

Gannon called the 60‑to‑1 tag on Erik van Rooyen and Christiaan Bezuidenhout “disrespectful,” noting the market is overweighting recent missed cuts and ignoring course fit. Van Rooyen’s boom‑or‑bust driving (22nd in SG:Off‑the‑Tee over his last 24 measured rounds) pairs perfectly with Bezuidenhout’s laser‑accurate short irons and top‑10 upside putter on Bermuda. The South Africans have already combined for three worldwide wins in the past 18 months, illustrating real closing equity. Gannon emphasized that EVR in particular spikes when his odds drift past 50‑1—two of his three PGA Tour podiums have come at 70‑to‑1 or longer prices. With alternate‑shot volatility suppressing favorites, he will use the tandem in outright markets and look to grab plus‑money H2Hs versus mid‑tier American teams that lack winning pedigree.

Matt Gannon locked in the Canadian pairing of Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin at 35‑to‑1, arguing the number does not reflect their proven chemistry and motivation. Gannon pointed to last year’s run, when the two played this event with a Presidents Cup berth on the line and still gained a combined 8.1 strokes tee‑to‑green despite finishing outside the top‑10. He expects a similar edge this week because Taylor’s spike‑putting (2nd on TOUR in SG:Putting since March) complements Hadwin’s elite wedges (7th in proximity 100‑150 yards). Both have shown they can manufacture birdies in different ways—Taylor by rolling in 20‑footers, Hadwin by stuffing approaches—an underrated trait in best‑ball. Add in two rounds of alternate‑shot where their fairway‑finding profiles should keep them out of the gators, and Gannon believes the Canadians are a live outright as well as plus‑money matchup fodder against flashier but less balanced teams.

Gannon flagged Aaron Rai and Sahith Theegala (20‑28 to 1 range) as a sneaky upside team. Rai finished top‑10 here twice with David Lipsky, demonstrating perfect course fit in alternate‑shot thanks to his laser‑straight driving. Swapping Lipsky for Theegala adds pure scoring juice—Sahith’s elite birdie rate and short‑game creativity give the duo a higher tournament‑winning ceiling. Gannon called them the ideal blend of steadiness (Rai) and electricity (Theegala) for this format and said he will start his outright card here if the number holds.

Dom Cintorino smashed the bet button on the Hojgaard twins at 28‑to‑1 (boosted to 41‑to‑1 on his slip). He said no event fits them better: identical swings, lifelong chemistry, and birdie rates that can explode in best‑ball. Dom acknowledged their volatility—"they could shoot 54 on Thursday and 80 on Friday"—but argued the ceiling outweighs the floor. Rasmus’s leap on the DP World Tour last summer and Nicolai’s steady PGA performances give the brothers more polish than a year ago when they missed the cut. With only one chance a season to roster them together, Dom views the number as a pure value play and grabbed an each‑way for extra protection.

Mike McClure's SportsLine simulation singled out the Brice Garnett–Sepp Straka tandem as the best value bet at 33‑1 for the Zurich Classic. Straka enters ranked No. 16 in the world with three PGA Tour wins—including January’s American Express—and has made the cut in 10 of 11 non‑majors while closing last week’s RBC Heritage with consecutive 67s for T13. Garnett shores up Straka’s lone weakness: scrambling. Garnett sits top‑35 on Tour in overall scrambling, top‑35 from the rough, and 19th in sand‑save percentage, whereas Straka is 100th in scrambling but third in scoring average. The pair already proved the partnership works by finishing T‑11 here a year ago. McClure believes the complementary stat profiles and recent form make them a live longshot worth a bet at +3300 on FanDuel.

Gannon likes the Poston–Mitchell pairing at 20‑to‑1 or longer, calling them the most attractive option in the second tier. Mitchell supplies elite driving distance and aggressive birdie looks, while Poston’s dialed‑in wedges and hot putting balance the team in alternate shot. Gannon quipped that Mitchell "can’t win alone," but with Poston covering the approach game they can absolutely win this format. Both players are comfortable with each other’s styles and are in solid recent form, making them a high‑ceiling bet if books drift to 20‑plus odds.

Matt Gannon said he is fading Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry at the current 3.5–4‑to‑1 price. Gannon argued the Zurich’s two rounds of alternate‑shot introduce so much volatility that swallowing a favorite that short is "silly." He added that Rory likely hasn’t even picked up a club since flying back to Northern Ireland to celebrate his Masters win, creating a post‑victory hangover risk. Last year the duo needed a playoff against Martin Trainer and Chad Ramey—proof, in Gannon’s view, that even elite teams can get tripped up here. With Rory’s practice time in question and scoring formats that can swing wildly, Gannon prefers to bet the rest of the board and "take them on" in matchups and outrights.

The SportsLine simulation views Joseph Bramlett and Alex Smalley as mispriced at 45‑1. Bramlett arrives with confidence after a solo third at the Puerto Rico Open. Smalley has cooled off lately (three missed cuts, outside top‑60 last week), yet his season‑long analytics are eye‑popping: 10th in total strokes gained, 2nd on par‑4 scoring, 2nd in total driving, and 12th in scrambling. He also opened 2025 with five top‑20s in his first seven events, signaling upside if he cleans up recent swing issues. With both players surpassing 100 career PGA starts, they own the experience edge over many Zurich partnerships. McClure’s model projects a bounce‑back for Smalley and sees the pairing’s balanced tee‑to‑green profile as dangerous in a watered‑down field, making the +4500 number worth firing on.

McClure’s model flagged the Alejandro Tosti–Joe Highsmith pairing at 40‑1 as a sneaky upside play. Highsmith broke through at this year’s Cognizant Classic, followed with a T20 at THE PLAYERS, and owns four top‑22 finishes despite six missed cuts in 12 starts—showing high‑ceiling volatility the format rewards. Tosti has been trending up, nearly stealing last week’s Corales Puntacana (solo T2) after earlier results of T5 at the Houston Open and T12 at the Valero Texas Open. Statistically, Tosti’s fifth‑ranked driving distance sets him up to attack the par‑5s, while Highsmith’s 31st‑ranked putting average compensates for Tosti’s 80th‑ranked flatstick. The model sees their mash‑it‑then‑drain‑it skill blend as perfect for best‑ball sessions and worthy of a speculative ticket at +4000.

McClure’s SportsLine model flagged Brice Garnett and Sepp Straka at +3500 as the value play of the week. Garnett brings elite accuracy—7th in driving accuracy (70%) and 8th in GIR (70.14%)—skills that historically thrive at TPC Louisiana’s water‑guarded layout. Straka arrives scorching hot with a win and three top‑10s in 2025 and leads the entire PGA Tour in SG: approach (1.098), ranks 2nd in GIR (72.10%) and 8th in putting average (1.702). The complementary stat profiles—Garnett’s fairways and greens with Straka’s proximity and hot flat stick—push the duo much higher in the model’s 10,000 simulations than their 35‑1 odds imply, making them a recommended outright and top‑10 wager for bettors chasing a big payday.

Mike McClure's SportsLine simulation faded the Morikawa/Kitayama pairing despite their +1400 price tag. The model has them barely sneaking into the top‑five after a disappointing T‑23 last year that stemmed from alternate‑shot struggles (even‑par 70 in Rounds 2 and 4). Morikawa still stripes it tee‑to‑green but ranks 85th in strokes gained: putting (0.046) and 87th in one‑putt percentage (41.07%), a red flag in a team event where birdies are mandatory. Kitayama’s ball‑striking has been off all season—116th in GIR (64.63%), 133rd in SG: approach (‑0.240) and an alarming 159th in driving accuracy (53.88%). McClure’s model believes those weaknesses give bettors little edge at short odds and advises looking elsewhere for outright tickets.

Eric Cohen told SportsLine bettors to isolate one leg of his eight‑leg mega parlay and play Karl Vilips & Michael Thorbjornsen to finish top‑20 at the 2025 Zurich Classic, grabbing the +150 number at DraftKings (shorter at +115 on Bet365). Cohen likes the former Stanford teammates’ built‑in chemistry for this two‑man format and highlighted their recent form: Vilips already owns a PGA Tour win in Puerto Rico this season and sat inside the top 10 through 53 holes at the RBC Heritage before fading to T54, while Thorbjornsen gained more than 10 strokes on the field last week and finished T2 in Puntacana. Both are 23 years old, earned their cards via Korn Ferry Tour/PGA Tour U and, in Cohen’s words, are a "high‑risk, high‑reward" duo whose talent makes a top‑20 finish a realistic payoff at plus odds.

For Round 1, Parker played Collin Morikawa and Kurt Kitayama Top 20 at +110 on bet365. Morikawa is fourth on tour in birdie‑or‑better rate, ninth in bogey avoidance, and ranks first in the field in true strokes gained on approach and second tee‑to‑green—an ideal profile for the opening four‑ball format. Kitayama has struggled in 2025 but was 27th in adjusted scoring last season and owns three prior trips here, including a T23 with Morikawa last year. Parker believes Morikawa’s precision can drag Kitayama along for a hot Thursday start.

Parker also grabbed Garrick Higgo and Ryan Fox Top 20 at +150 on FanDuel. The duo finished T4 last year, and Higgo logged another T4 here in 2022 with a different partner. Higgo arrives fresh off a win at the Corales Puntacana, while Fox, a four‑time DP World Tour champ, is above average this season in adjusted scoring and birdie average. Parker noted their "ham‑and‑egg" chemistry and expects another strong showing at TPC Louisiana.

For a finishing‑position play, Parker took Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin Top 20 at +135 on FanDuel. The Canadians finished solo 2nd in their Zurich debut and solo 10th last year, giving them proven course chemistry. Taylor is enjoying another steady season, and even though Hadwin’s form is lukewarm, both rank above tour average in birdie‑or‑better rate and putting average inside 10 feet. Their course familiarity and birdie potential make a Top‑20 ticket attractive in Parker’s model.

Parker recommended a flier on Jesper Svensson and Niklas Norgaard at +3700 on bet365. Both are DP World Tour winners who thrive in low‑scoring environments: Svensson ranks 12th in the field in driving distance and 11th in both true strokes gained off‑the‑tee and putting, while Norgaard sits second in distance, eighth off‑the‑tee, and 28th with the flat stick. They are 11th and 14th in birdie average this PGA season, leading Parker to project fireworks in the four‑ball rounds (1 and 3) where aggressive scoring is rewarded.

Reynolds tossed a dart at identical twins Jeremy and Yannik Paul at Circa’s 90‑1 number. Both brothers arrive in peak form—Jeremy finished T‑2 last week at the Corales Puntacana, and Yannik posted a T‑3 at the Volvo China Open on the DP World Tour. They rank 5th in combined Par‑5 Strokes Gained (15.5) across the last 24 rounds, an important indicator given TPC Louisiana’s four scorable par‑5s. Reynolds believes their natural chemistry and current momentum give them legitimate upset potential.