The PGA TOUR heads to New Orleans to play the 2023 Zurich Classic of New Orleans. In a welcome change from the usual stroke play, the Zurich Classic is a team event. On Thursday and Saturday, the teams play best ball, and on Friday and Sunday the teams play alternate shot.
TPC Louisiana is a par 72 that measures 7,425 yards. The course features some short par 4s and plenty of water and bunkers, which makes for a lot of exciting risk/reward scenarios for competitors. Pete Dye designed the course in 2004 specifically for the Zurich Classic, although the event didn't make its debut until 2007 because of Hurricane Katrina.
The field this week leaves a lot to be desired, with many of the world's top players using this time to rest after a busy stretch.
Some of the notable teams include Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele, Billy Horschel and Sam Burns, Max Homa and Collin Morikawa and Tom Kim and Si Woo Kim.
Past Winners at TPC Louisiana
- 2022: Cantlay/Schauffele (-29)
- 2021: Leishman/Smith (-20)
- 2019: Palmer/Rahm (-26)
- 2018: Horschel/Piercy (-22)
- 2017: Blixt/Smith (-27)
2023 Zurich Classic of New Orleans Pick
Sam Burns and Billy Horschel (+2200) (PointsBet)
I feel Burns and Horschel have the best value relative to the field this week.
The pair finished in solo second place last year and in a tie for fourth place in 2021. Horschel got his first PGA TOUR victory at TPC Louisiana in 2013, and then won the team event there in 2018 alongside Scott Piercy.
Burns has also proved to be a fantastic fit for TPC Louisiana. The former LSU Tiger is an outstanding putter on Bermudagrass and has a strong track record of winning in the south. His Bermudagrass putting of late has been outstanding. In his past three starts on the putting surface, he's gained an average of 4.1 strokes putting on the field per event.
Horschel's form has been discouraging in 2023. He's missed five out of nine cuts on the season and his ball striking has been remarkably poor.
However, I feel the format change and the chance to be picked up by his partner at a course he's loved throughout his career could be enough to get him on track.
