The PGA Tour returns to Louisiana this week for one of the most unique events on the calendar. The Zurich Classic is the only official team event of the season, with players competing in pairs across four rounds.
The format alternates between four-ball on Thursday and Saturday and foursomes on Friday and Sunday, placing equal emphasis on aggressive scoring and disciplined, mistake-free golf. We take a look at this week’s action from a betting angle and highlight a few suggested plays.
THE COURSE
TPC Louisiana is a Pete Dye design stretching to 7,425 yards (6,789 metres), a par 72 layout situated in Avondale just outside New Orleans. True to Dye’s style, the course places a premium on strategy and positioning rather than simply power.
The layout features over 100 bunkers and numerous water hazards, many of which come into play on approach rather than off the tee. Fairways are relatively generous by Dye standards, but angles into greens are crucial, with players needing to favour the correct side of the fairway to access tucked pins.
The greens are smaller than PGA Tour average and subtly contoured, putting a premium on precise iron play and distance control. Around the greens, shaved run-offs and tight lies demand a sharp short game, particularly in foursomes where missed greens are more costly.
Scoring is typically low here, especially in four-ball, where teams can attack and feed off momentum. However, the tournament is often decided in the alternate-shot rounds, where discipline, chemistry, and conservative decision-making become critical. Teams that combine a strong birdie-maker with a reliable tee-to-green player tend to thrive.
PREVIOUS WINNERS
2025 Ben Griffin, Andrew Novak -28
2024 Shane Lowry, Rory McIlroy -25*
2023 Nick Hardy, Davis Riley -30
2022 Patrick Cantlay, Xander Schauffele -29
2021 Marc Leishman, Cameron Smith -20*
* Playoff
BETTING (2026 Zurich Classic of New Orleans) – Click here to bet
Alex Fitzpatrick and Matt Fitzpatrick 12.00
Brooks Koepka and Shane Lowry 12.00
Ben Griffin and Andrew Novak 15.00
Ryan Gerard and Sudarshan Yellamaraju 15.00
Karl Vilips and Michael Thorbjornsen 17.00
Aaron Rai and Sahith Theegala 21.00
SELECTIONS:
Matt Fitzpatrick and Alex Fitzpatrick at 13.00
There is a reason the two English brothers are favourites going into this weekend. Not only do they probably have the best team chemistry of any pairing, being brothers, but Matt Fitzpatrick is also the in-form player on the PGA Tour right now while Alex has been in excellent form on the DP World Tour. In his last four tournaments, Matt has secured two wins, last weekend at the RBC Heritage and earlier at the Valspar Championship, as well as a second-place finish at the Players Championship. Alex is also coming into this week off the back of a win at the Hero Indian Open on the DP World Tour, having finished sixth at the Joburg Open the week before. With both brothers in this kind of form and the chemistry between them, they look well set to contend this week.
Suggested Bet: Matt Fitzpatrick and Alex Fitzpatrick each way at 13.00
Sahith Theegala and Aaron Rai at 21.00
Theegala has not been in the best form over the last two months, but just because he hasn't been at the top of the leaderboard doesn't mean he hasn't been putting in solid performances. In his last five starts he has secured two top-10 finishes and a 25th-place finish, missing just one cut. His best result came at the Arnold Palmer Invitational where he finished sixth. Aaron Rai hasn't been in the best form either, but he has shown he knows how to win, and paired with a player of Theegala's ability, the two make for a dangerous combination.
Suggested Bet: Sahith Theegala and Aaron Rai each way at 21.00
Brooks Koepka and Shane Lowry at 13.00
This is the only pairing this week where both players have won a major. Between the two of them they have six major championships, and 12 PGA Tour wins, bringing a level of experience the other teams simply cannot match. Lowry also knows what it takes to win the Zurich Classic, having won it back in 2024 with Rory McIlroy. Their experience in the big moments could prove decisive as the tournament reaches its final rounds on Sunday.
Suggested Bet: Brooks Koepka and Shane Lowry each way at 13.00
Erik van Rooyen and Christiaan Bezuidenhout at 41.00
This is a very well-balanced South African pairing that should suit the Zurich format although given their current form there is a hint of patriotism rather than form analyses involved.
Van Rooyen brings power and aggressive scoring, which is ideal in the four-ball rounds. Bezuidenhout, on the other hand, is one of the most reliable players tee-to-green, with an excellent short game and putting touch, exactly what you want in foursomes where mistakes are heavily punished.
Both players are also very comfortable in windy and strategic conditions, which fits TPC Louisiana’s demands. Bezuidenhout’s consistency should stabilise the team, while Van Rooyen provides the upside needed to contend.
Suggested Bet: Erik van Rooyen and Christiaan Bezuidenhout each way at 41.00
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