Zurich Classic 2025: Expert PGA Predictions & Betting Preview

Zurich Classic 2025 Betting Preview

WagerTalk golf handicapper Nick Borrman offers his thoughts on the Zurich Classic teeing off from TPC Louisiana in Avondale, LA! Nick discusses the guys at the top of the odds board, a long shot to win and other expert picks surrounding the Zurich Classic starting on April 24th!

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Zurich Classic of New Orleans	Zurich Classic of New Orleans
When:	April 24-27
Where:	TPC Louisiana in Avondale, LA
Defending Champ:	Shane Lowry / Rory McIlroy
Current Favorite:	Shane Lowry / Rory McIlroy (+360 at DraftKings)
TV:	CBS, Golf Channel

Zurich Classic Odds Board

Top-10 Total Strokes Gained over the last six months (betting odds via FanDuel , DraftKings and others)

Zurich Classic Betting Preview

The Zurich Class is a much more fun and relaxed atmosphere as the Tour’s only 2-man team event. Still, all the glory awaits the winners as they both receive an official win along with all the exemptions that comes with.

This event features 80 teams playing four-ball (better ball) in the first and third rounds, along with foursomes (alternate shot) in the second and final rounds.

Thus, expect very low scores on Thursday and Saturday, easily in the low-60s and perhaps threatening 59, while Friday and Sunday you will likely see over par rounds. There is a cut after the 2nd round down to the top 33 teams and ties.

TPC Louisiana is another Pete Dye design (just like last week at Harbor Town) and is a stock par 72 measuring a little over 7,400 yards.

Unlike last week, water is not in play nearly as much with just five water hazards on the course, though bunkers are aplenty with over 100 scattered throughout the 18 holes which likely will come into play on Friday and Sunday.

While a hot putter will be needed to make birdies on Thursday and Saturday, ball-striking will take the cake on Friday and Sunday as players look to avoid bogeys.

Understandably, the defending champs, and recent Masters winner Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry are the favorites after winning in their first pairing together here.

Like every year at this event, you will see a mix of teams that have never played together before, those that have played together for years, or those that were only born minutes apart (Hojgaard twins, anyone?).

That’s important to note as often in these partner events, chemistry is as important as form and you will see that when looking at past leaderboards like in 2023 when Nick Hardy and Davis Riley were triumphant.

Chemistry is more of a gut feeling though, so it never hurts to look at the data and find the guys that are in their best form. A nice mix of approach play, and a hot putter is likely the combo needed to win this week.

Finally, the weather looks great at least when it comes to the four tournament rounds. Tuesday and Wednesday’s forecast features a high chance of thunderstorms, softening the course for the contestants which could threaten the scoring record of 30-under par.

Once the tournament begins, temperatures in the mid-80s and winds that will never crest 10-15 mph will greet the players and fans alike.

Zurich Classic Predictions

Winner: Alejandro Tosti / Joe Highsmith +4000 | Top-10 +360 | Top-20 +150

Tosti has been a splash on the scene that a lot of people have been talking about due to his fiery temper. Regardless, his play has been on “fire-y” finishing T5 in Houston, T12 at Valero and T2 last week in Puntacana.

He’s got the distance perfect for this format and I think the course could play a little longer due to soft conditions at least on Thursday when birdies are the goal.

Highsmith has been a little lackluster of late with a 72-MC-MC in his last three starts, though that included the Masters and last week’s RBC Signature.

Prior to that though, he had a five-start burst of T17-WIN-MC-T20-T22. He is average at best tee-to-green, but his putter can get red-hot and thinking this format may spark him back into form.

Winner: Chan Kim / Doug Ghim +5500 | Top-10 +400 | Top-20 +160

Chan comes in off back-to-back Top-10 finishes in Puntacana last week finishing T7 and a T5 before that at the Valero.

He also has a couple Top-20 finishes in Puerto Rico and Mexico this season as well. Kim is ho-hum in most stats, but his approach play has been solid gaining strokes in 16 of his last 21 measured starts.

Ghim has also splashed a few times this season including his T18 finish in his last start at the Valero. T11 at Cognizant Classic and T21 at The American Express highlight a couple other strong finishes this season. But his consistency has been key as he has missed just four cuts in his last 20 starts including seven Top-25 finishes.

These guys teamed up last year for a T28 giving them something to build on.

See you next week for the THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson!

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