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PGA picks: Day/Fowler the dominant team in New Orleans

John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports / Reuters

This week is a unique one on the PGA Tour as the players partner up to play as two-man teams in New Orleans at the Zurich Classic.

The duos will alternate between foursome play in rounds one and three, and four-ball action for rounds two and four, with both winners receiving a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour.

Here are the picks for this week.

Favorites to watch (odds less than 20-1)

Jason Day/Rickie Fowler

The most explosive team in the field is undoubtedly the tandem of Jason Day and Rickie Fowler. Any matching of the world's third- and ninth-ranked golfers would be solid to begin with, but Day's history in the event and Fowler's recent form add to their potential firepower. The Australian has two top-five finishes in New Orleans the past two years while Fowler comes in with eight top-20 showings in nine events this season. They are the favorites for a reason.

Odds to win: 6-1
Top-5 odds: Even

2nd tier (odds greater than 20-1)

Keegan Bradley/Brendan Steele

Keegan Bradley and Brendan Steele are known to play a great many practice rounds together, so familiarity could be a big bonus for this tandem in New Orleans. Bradley has eighth- and 22nd-place finishes in this event in the past three years, while Steele is one of the most consistent players on tour this season, having made 13 of 14 cuts. His consistency should help the sometimes-volatile Bradley to a strong finish.

Odds to win: 35-1
Top-5 odds: 6-1

Long shots (odds greater than 40-1)

Jamie Lovemark/Luke Donald

Jamie Lovemark's and Luke Donald's games mesh together as well as anybody's on tour, with the former providing the length and the latter supplying the short game. Lovemark is one of the longest players on tour, averaging well over 300 yards per drive, while Donald is once again in the top five in strokes gained putting. Lovemark finished second in last year's Zurich Classic, while Donald's last start in New Orleans netted a third-place finish in 2012.

Odds to win: 40-1
Top-5 odds: 6-1

Super long shots (odds greater than 70-1)

Steve Stricker/Jerry Kelly

Nobody has better team chemistry in this field then Champions Tour members Steve Stricker and Jerry Kelly. Two of the more dominant players from the 50-plus crowd won't be intimidated by their younger competition, and have showed they play well off each other in previous events. The duo finished second in the Franklin Templeton Shootout last season, posting an incredible 56 in the process. At 75-1 value, it'd be silly not to toss a couple bucks down on the old fellas.

Odds to win: 75-1
Top-5 odds: 9-1

Hit this bet, buy a car (odds greater than 100-1)

Trey Mullinax/Bobby Wyatt

The former Alabama teammates may not be the most publicized pairing, but both are excellent ball-strikers, a skill necessary to win at the Zurich Classic. Mullinax is pumping the ball 305 yards per drive on average, good for 12th on Tour, while Wyatt showed he's very comfortable at this event last season, finishing just one stroke out of a playoff. At 200-1, they're worth a small wager for a potential monster payoff.

Odds to win: 200-1
Top-5 odds: 33-1

Last week's picks

Brooks Koepka: 2nd
Ryan Palmer: T-6
Daniel Summerhays: T-58
Bryson DeChambeau: MC
Beau Hossler: MC

Season record (through 16 events)

Wins: 4
Top 5: 14

(Odds courtesy: Bodog)
(Photos courtesy: Action Images)

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