Although the Zurich generally rewards chalk, Rawlings pointed out an under‑the‑radar angle for bettors hunting triple‑digit odds. Several unheralded duos that nearly stole the trophy shared one common thread—strong results at the wind‑exposed coastal tracks used for the Puerto Rico Open or Corales Puntacana Championship. In 2024, 410/1 pair Martin Trainer and Chad Ramey (both past winners in the Caribbean) traded odds‑on on Sunday, and 1000/1 outsiders Patrick Fairburn and Zac Blair hit a similar in‑running low. Earlier, Puerto Rico champ Scott Brown paired with Kevin Kisner to lose a playoff in the inaugural team edition. Because TPC Louisiana features similar paspalum‑to‑Bermuda transitions, Rawlings advised sprinkling outright bets on pairings where at least one member owns a top‑5 in Puerto Rico or Corales—especially if they teed it up last week in the DR—in expectation of another surprise run at a huge price.

Steven Rawlings highlighted the tight correlation between results at Pete Dye’s Austin Country Club (host of the final seven WGC Match Plays) and TPC Louisiana. Every Match Play winner from 2016–2023—Jason Day, Bubba Watson, Kevin Kisner, Billy Horschel, Scottie Scheffler, and Sam Burns—has produced at least a top‑5 finish or a playoff appearance in New Orleans, with several bagging the Zurich title outright (Horschel twice, Smith once with Kisner runner‑up). Rawlings argued that the similar Dye visual angles and emphasis on creative approach shots translate perfectly from Austin to Avondale. For outright tickets or DFS captain slots he recommended building around teams containing those Match Play standouts—e.g., a Burns/Horschel reunion or a Scheffler‑anchored duo—because their course‑fit signal is as strong as it gets.

Steven Rawlings said bettors and DFS players should focus on pairings whose calling card is the flat‑stick. Looking back at the individual era, six of the last seven solo winners ranked top‑10 in Putting Average, and 2016 champ Brian Stuard led every short‑game category while ranking just 73rd in Greens in Regulation. In the team format, Cameron Smith has already lifted the trophy twice with different partners, and Smith’s reputation is built almost entirely on his putter. The track is a generous 7,425‑yard Pete Dye design with wide fairways, so length and accuracy off the tee have proven largely irrelevant (average Driving Distance rank of past winners was 27.1, Driving Accuracy 37.5). Because scoring is typically well into the −20s, Rawlings expects another birdie fest where whoever rolls in the most 10‑to‑20‑footers wins. He advised loading up on teams that rank top‑20 in SG:Putting or Putting Average and downgrading pure bombers who rely on tee‑box advantage.