2022 Zurich Classic odds, field, best bets and PGA Tour picks

Like the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play, the annual trip to New Orleans is a great change of pace. The PGA Tour is headed to TPC Louisiana for the Zurich Classic, a team event where the format of play rotates between best ball and alternate shot.

Rounds 1 and 3: Best ball
Rounds 2 and 4: Alternate shot

The pair of Cameron Smith and Marc Leishman enter as the defending champions, while the betting favorites are Viktor Hovland and Collin Morikawa (+600).

Ryan Palmer has a new partner this time around after playing with Jon Rahm for the past few seasons (and Jordan Spieth before him). Palmer was able to grab World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler. Must be nice.

Golf course

TPC Louisiana | Par 72 | 7,425 yards | Pete Dye design

Key statistics

Birdie percentage: Birdies are king this week. The pairs will need to make a lot of them to have a chance to win.

Data Golf Information

Course Fit (compares golf courses based on the degree to which different golfer attributes — such as driving distance — to predict who performs well at each course – DataGolf): 1. Caves Valley Golf Club, 2. Trinity Forest Golf Club, 3. Stadium Course at PGA West

Trending: 1. Scottie Scheffler (last three starts: T-55, 1, 1), 2. Shane Lowry (T-35, T-3, T-3), 3. Sepp Straka (T-35, T-30, T-3)

Percent chance to win (based on course history, fit, trending, etc.): 1. Cantlay/Schauffele (8.9 percent), 2. Hovland/Moriakawa (8.6 percent), 3. Palmer/Scheffler (5.4 percent)

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Betting odds

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list.

Betting card for the 2022 Zurich Classic

Max Homa and Talor Gooch. (Photo: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports)

Homa and Gooch are great friends off the golf course, and that can help throughout the week. They’re both inside the top 30 this season in birdie average.

Will Zalatoris tees off on the tenth during the third round of the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play golf tournament. (Photo: Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports)

This season, Zalatoris ranks 28th in birdie percentage, while his partner, Riley, is tied for 23rd. The pair are former roommates and like the Gooch/Homa pair, will have great chemistry on the course.

Joaquín Niemann (R) of Chile celebrates with the trophy alongside friend and competitor Mito Pereira (L) of Chile after winning the final round of The Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club on February 20, 2022 in Pacific Palisades, California. (Photo by Katharine Lotze/Getty Images)

Another team with great chemistry. Pereira enters the week with three straight top-30 finishes including a top 20 at the Valero Texas Open. Niemann played at Harbour Town last week and tied for 12th.