Betting: PGA Zurich Classic Preview

Pamela Maldonado breaks down her top picks for the Zurich Classic of New Orleans from TPC Louisiana.

Video Transcript

PAM MALDONADO: The PGA rolls on to Louisiana for the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. I'm Pam Maldonado, and I've got my best duos to target for this week's event at TPC Louisiana. It is a par 72, over 7,400 yards, and it is a team event. So Willie Z, If Riley can't make it, you know where to find me.

Since it is a duo event, you will have best ball being played on Thursday and Saturday and alternate shot being played on Friday and Sunday. Currently atop the odds boards, Cam Smith and Marc Leishman. They are back to defend their 2021 title. Smith, who has won twice already this season and twice already here, though with two different players, are third favorites behind Viktor Hovland and Collin Morikawa and Patrick Cantlay with Xander Schauffele.

Now I'm not really looking at stat lines and data points. Instead, I'm trying to figure out how well a team matches up, starting first with Tommy Fleetwood and Sergio Garcia. 16 to 1 for a win. Fleetwood has played some really great golf as of late. He has five top-25 finishes in his last six events, including 14th at the Masters.

Garcia was in a bit of a slump, but he has five top-40 finishes in his last five. Garcia did loose strokes on his approach in four straight events, however he gained almost 7 at the Masters. If he can catapult some of that run good, some of that upside paired up with somebody like Fleetwood who's playing really great as of late, potentially this duo could end up being a really strong couple.

Now those are some of the shorter odds. I do want to look further down the odds board and look at Patton Kizzire with JT Poston. 45 to 1 for a win. I do want to look at complementary golf, and that's what this duo has. Poston, good off the tee. Kizz is good on his approach shot. Both players good around the green and with their short game. Poston did have a T3 just last week at the RBC Heritage, gaining strokes in every single category. Now paired with Kizz, who gained 5 and 1/2 strokes with his short game.

Those are two duos that I like to contend for this week's PGA event at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Tommy Fleetwood with Sergio Garcia and Patton Kizzire with JT Poston. You can find odds to win outright, top 20, and more at the Yahoo Sportsbook. Bet $10 and win $200 in free bets by signing up at BetMGM.com/yahooVIP. New customers only. Must be 21 or older, and terms do apply.