Zurich Classic 2023: Predictions, Best Bets, Sleepers

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Si Woo Kim, of South Korea, and Tom Kim, of South Korea, walk toward the 15th green during their fourball match at the Presidents Cup golf tournament at the Quail Hollow Club, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, in Charlotte, N.C.
(AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Ryan Hannable @RyanHannable Apr 19, 2023, 12:57 PM
  • The Zurich Classic is April 20-23 from TPC Louisiana.
  • Patrick Cantlay/Xander Schauffele (+300) are big betting favorites.
  • This is the lone team event on the PGA Tour schedule.

Following a thrilling Masters and RBC Heritage – both designated events – this week is unique. The Zurich Classic from TPC Louisana is the lone team event of the season on the PGA Tour. 

Eighty teams of two players will play a best-ball format Thursday and alternate shot Friday before the field is cut to the top 33 teams and ties for the weekend.

Patrick Cantlay/Xander Schauffele are the defending champions and are massive favorites this week at +300.

Since it is a team event, it’s a hard one to handicap since it’s two players and because of the different formats. 

It does make sense to target pairings who are comfortable with each other and have experience playing team golf together. Just look at Cantlay and Schauffele, who are good friends off the course and have teamed up at the Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup.

I will not use a Fantasy National model this week or look at course history. I will mostly try to find pairs that I suspect will be comfortable with each other and enter the event playing good golf.

Below are some players to target when golf betting, followed by my betting card for the week.

Zurich Classic Predictions 

The team of Patrick Cantlay/Xander Schauffele are predicted to win the Zurich Classic with a 25% implied probability — i.e., the overall chance of a potential outcome in relation to the odds — according to betting markets.

Max Homa/Collin Morikawa have the next best odds to win with a 11.76% implied probability.  They are followed by Sungjae Im/Keith Mitchell at +1100.

Zurich Classic Best Bets

Patrick Cantlay/Xander Schauffele +300 Odds to Win

Unsurprisingly, these two are huge favorites going into the week as the defending champions. The two hang out a ton off the course and are playing exceptionally of late. Cantlay has six straight top-20 finishes, while Schauffele has three straight top 10s. 

The two have played five foursomes matches as a team at the Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup combined and won all five of them.

Max Homa/Collin Morikawa +750 Odds to Win

Besides Cantlay and Schauffele, these are the two best players in the field and therefore have the second-best odds. Both are exceptional ball strikers and can make birdies in bunches. 

Zurich Classic Sleepers

Tom Hoge/Harris English +3500 Odds to Win

While both players haven’t done all that much of late, they have had quite a bit of success on Tour and could be dangerous in this format, given their ball striking. Hoge has had past success in team events, as he and Sahith Theegala won the QBE Shootout last December.

Ben Griffin/Ryan Gerard +9000 Odds to Win

These two were teammates for a year at the University of North Carolina and continue to be good friends. Griffin is having a solid first year on Tour with six top-25 finishes, while Gerard just accepted temporary PGA Tour membership as he looks to lock in his card for next season. Their history together could allow them to make some noise this week.

Zurich Classic Betting Card & Other Predictions

  • Si Woo Kim/Tom Kim Outright Win +1400
  • Sahith Theegala/Justin Suh Outright Win +2200
  • Ben Griffin/Ryan Gerard Top-20 Finish +180

Since this is a unique event with little to go on, I am keeping my betting card short. 

Kim and Tom formed some chemistry at the Presidents Cup, which will be helpful this week. 

Meanwhile, Theegala and Suh are good friends, and on top of playing well of late, Theegala has won a team event before (QBE Shootout last December).

Lastly, Griffin/Gerard are worth taking a shot at with plus money to finish inside the top 20.

PGA Tour Odds at BetMGM

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About the Author

Ryan Hannable

Read More @RyanHannable

Ryan Hannable is a Content Managing Editor on the Web Content Team for BetMGM. Previously, he was a New England Patriots beat writer for WEEI in Boston. He also has published a golf book, “The Ultimate Book of Golf Trivia: 600 Questions and Answers.”

Ryan Hannable is a Content Managing Editor on the Web Content Team for BetMGM. Previously, he was a New England Patriots beat writer for WEEI in Boston. He also has published a golf book, “The Ultimate Book of Golf Trivia: 600 Questions and Answers.”