The PGA TOUR brings bettors a different look this week at the 2021 Zurich Classic at TPC Louisiana.
Rather than a traditional stroke-play event, this tournament features pairings playing both best ball and alternate shot formats throughout the weekend. The unique set-up for the Zurich Classic should provide some chaos, so it is not a bad idea to have a punt down the board at TPC Louisiana.
Here are our favorite longshot bets for the 2021 Zurich Classic:
Jason Sobel
Justin Suh & Doug Ghim (+7000)
In the first year of this event’s team format, Blixt and Smith used a victory as motivation for a two-year exemption, the same one which comes with individual wins. Suh and Ghim should each have long tenures in the big leagues, but a massive week could help launch their careers a little quicker.
The combo of Ghim’s irons and Suh’s flatstick could work nicely.
Chris Murphy
Matthew NeSmith & Chase Seiffert (+8000)
The stats we have from this event show that ball-striking, with a heavy lean on the approach shot, is the key to success at TPC Louisiana. The one team with two players inside the top-20 in SG: Approach over the last two months is the NeSmith/Seiffert tandem.
Both of these players also putt better on bermudagrass and have the scoring upside to contend down the stretch.
Matthew Vincenzi
Scott Piercy & Akshay Bhatia (+15000)
Bhatia is supremely talented but at 19 years old, lacks consistency. In this format, I like the idea of pairing Akshay with a reliable veteran like Scott Piercy who can help steady the ship for the tandem.
A previous winner here, Piercy loves this event and may be able to get the best out of Bhatia.
Landon Silinsky
Nick Taylor & Martin Laird (+7000)
I like this pairing quite a bit, as it features two former PGA TOUR winners, which is something not many other groups in this field can say. This twosome finished in a tie for ninth place in 2019 and both have been playing pretty decent golf this season.
Both Laird and Taylor gain strokes tee-to-green at this course on a per round basis in their respective careers. Laird also has an additional T-7 back in 2018 with a different playing partner, so it seems as though both these guys feel somewhat comfortable at this track, which is enough for me at these odds.
Rob Bolton
Roger Sloan & Aaron Baddeley (+15000)
If you’re keen on comparing odds at the various houses, I’ll do this homework for ya. Consider that street sweethearts Richy Werenski and Peter Uihlein are on the board at +9000 at FanDuel, but at BetMGM, both the Sloan-Badds combo and the Werenski-Uihlein team are at +8000. Talk about value for the international duo at FanDuel.
Baddeley is fresh off a top-five finish on the Korn Ferry Tour in Vegas. Sloan recently connected a trio of top 25s on the PGA TOUR. They also happen to be one of my three Sleepers at PGATOUR.com.
Bryan Berryman
Charley Hoffman & Nick Watney (+7000)
If Hoffman was paired with someone who had been playing remotely decent in the last calendar year, this number would be closer to +2500. Referencing my same ball-striking model from the outrights section, Hoffman ranks first in this field while playing partner Nick Watney ranks 119th. Watney has missed the cut in his last 13 events. Hoffman has made the cut in his last seven events, a run that includes three top-10 finishes.
Clearly this is a pick based on riding Charley’s recent hot stretch. I’m hoping he can carry the team, while at the same time hoping Watney can just keep the ball on the course.
