PGA picks: Thomas teams with Cauley to find 3rd win of season at Zurich Classic
The PGA Tour takes a break from the traditional stroke-play tournament style with a team event in New Orleans for the Zurich Classic.
The field of 160 features 80 teams of two, with two rounds of alternate shot and two rounds of best ball to decide the winners.
Last year's event was a smashing success with Kevin Kisner draining a 94-foot chip for eagle on the 72nd hole to force a playoff. Kisner and his partner Scott Brown would eventually lose in the extra session, but the drama provided one of the best moments of the season.
Here's which teams to target this year as we look for a repeat of the electric 2017 event.
Favorites to watch (odds 30-1 or shorter)
Justin Thomas/Bud Cauley
The former Alabama stars team together at the Zurich Classic for the second straight year after posting a fifth-place showing in 2017. That history bodes well for the duo this year at the TPC Louisiana, as they are among the better teams in the field. Cauley comes in playing very well with three consecutive top-25 finishes, and Thomas is, well, he's the second-ranked player in the world. Look for Thomas to grab his third win of the wraparound season, while Cauley grabs a trophy for the first time in his PGA Tour career.
Odds to win: 10-1
Top-5 odds: 2-1
Second tier (odds longer than 30-1)
Billy Horschel/Scott Piercy
Piercy is among the best players on Tour with his iron-game, leading the circuit in strokes gained: approach for the season. That pinpoint accuracy will play well around a lengthy TPC Louisiana layout that will feature the majority of approach shots from 175 yards and over. Horschel is a past winner of this event in 2013 and comes in this year in top form with two straight top-11 finishes.
Odds to win: 40-1
Top-5 odds: 13-2
Long shots (odds 50-1 or longer)
Emiliano Grillo/ Peter Uihlein
Grillo is a brilliant long-iron player that is currently leading the PGA Tour in greens hit from 200-plus yards. That will be an important number with the length of the TPC Louisiana layout. Uihlein has struggled recently with two straight missed cuts, but could benefit with the break from stroke-play. These two are good friends and can go as low as anybody when they are on their game. That potential is worth a wager at 50-1.
Odds to win: 50-1
Top-5 odds: 9-1
Super long shots (odds 80-1 or longer)
Brooks Koepka/Marc Turnesa
A player coming off a significant injury teaming with one ranked 1,929 in the world doesn't seem like a very formidable duo, but when the first guy mentioned is Brooks Koepka, it's worth a long-shot bet. The reigning U.S. Open champion returns from a wrist injury that forced him to miss the Masters, and is teaming with Marc Turnesa, a man who has played only one Tour event this season. Koepka posted a fifth-place finish in the event last year with his brother Chase, and we shouldn't put it past him to show out well again this year, regardless of partner.
Odds to win: 80-1
Top-5 odds: 11-1
Hit this bet, buy a car (odds 100-1 or longer)
Sam Ryder/J.J. Spaun
This team of brilliant iron players is definitely worth a bet at 150-1 this week. TPC Louisiana demands strong approach play, and both Spaun and Ryder excel in that area. Both players went through difficult stretches this season but have looked sharper in the past few events, notably Ryder's fifth-place finish at the Houston Open. With games that are a solid fit for the course this week, Spaun and Ryder will be among the popular sleeper picks on the board.
Odds to win: 150-1
Top-5 odds: 22-1
Last event's results
Adam Scott: MC
Brendan Steele: T-30
J.B. Holmes: MC
Aaron Wise: MC
Brandon Harkins: MDF
Season record (15 events)
Wins: 4 (Paul Casey 25-1, Bubba Watson 50-1, Dustin Johnson 15-2, Jon Rahm 8-1)
Top 5: 9
(Odds courtesy: Bodog)
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)