Zurich Classic Betting Preview: Odds, Prediction, Long Shot Bet, Team to Fade and Outright Winner Pick

The only PGA Tour team event of the season (think laidback Ryder Cup vibes) is here and it’s chock-full of powerhouse tandems to consider betting on. 

Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry, Xander Schauffle and Patrick Cantlay, Will Zalatoris and Sahith Theegala headline the field this week, but we're not betting on them, choosing instead to focus on a team of brothers.

Before betting, it’s important to remember this is a unique format. There are two days of fourball, known as best-ball, played in Rounds 1 and 3 and two rounds of foursomes, known as alternate shots, in Rounds 2 and 4.

Last year’s winning team of Davis Riley and Nick Hardy shot 30 under for the week, so we must pick duos who can go low in each format.

Who are they? Let’s break it down starting with the Top 10 teams in odds, which come from DraftKings Sportsbook, followed by our longshot pick, the team to fade and outright winner. 

Zurich Classic Odds

Patrick Cantlay / Xander Schauffele +400

Rory McIlroy / Shane Lowry +700

Will Zalatoris / Sahith Theegala +800

Collin Morikawa / Kurt Kitayama +1200

Rasmus Højgaard / Nicolai Højgaard +2200

Tom Hoge / Maverick McNealy +2500

Matt Fitzpatrick / Alex Fitzpatrick +2500

Taylor Pendrith / Corey Conners +2800

Nick Taylor / Adam Hadwin +3000

Sepp Straka / Brice Garnett +4000

Keith Mitchell / Joel Dahmen +4000

Doug Ghim / Chan Kim +4000

​​Billy Horschel / Tyson Alexander +4000

Zurich Classic Long Shot Pick: ​​Billy Horschel / Tyson Alexander +4000

There’s no shortage of star power atop the leaderboard, but a team capable of competing this week that’s flying under the radar is Billy Horschel and Tyson Alexander at +4000 odds. 

Horschel just won the Puntacana Championship with a 23-under total highlighted by a 63 on Sunday. He’s always been a streaky player and I’m counting on his hot streak continuing at an event he’s had success at before. 

Horschel won this event when it was played as an individual tournament and won it another time as a team. He’s placed second twice and tied for fourth once here. Last year, he placed 11th with Sam Burns. 

Alexander is not as well known and doesn’t have as strong of a history at the Zurich, but he’s off to a good start this season (has made three straight cuts) and had his best start of the season three weeks ago at the Texas Open. He's also 49th on tour in shots-gained: putting, an important stat this week, especially in alternate shot.

Winning back-to-back events is tough, but Horschel’s hot and he wouldn’t have picked Alexander as his teammate in an event he has a history of success at if he didn’t think they could win. 

Zurich Classic Team to Fade: Rasmus Højgaard / Nicolai Højgaard +2200

Nicolai Højgaard was leading the Masters outright Saturday afternoon before a disastrous back nine 40 ended his chances of winning. He followed that up with a 4-over 76 on Sunday and just missed the cut at the Puntacana Championship.

Overall, he’s missed three cuts in his last five events and was T-75 in another with a +5 total score. His run at Augusta seems more an apparition when taking a macro view of his recent form.

Nicolai is playing with his twin brother, ​​Rasmus, who withdrew from the Indian Open after an opening-round 79. ​​Rasmus does have three Top 10s on the DP World Tour this season, but the most recent one came in February. 

Recent results suggest both brother’s forms are regressing heading into this one. While being together could lighten the mood and improve their play, the +2200 odds are not good enough to warrant a bet. 

Zurich Classic Pick to Win: Matt Fitzpatrick / Alex Fitzpatrick +2500

After fading one brother duo, why not back another, huh? 

Matt Fitzpatrick is ranked ninth in total driving on the PGA Tour, 26th in total putting, 15th in birdie average per round and 11th in birdie percentage on Par 5s. He finished fifth at the Players and 10th at the Texas Open, was in contention at the Masters early and just shot four rounds under par at the RBC Heritage. 

Alex finished T23 at the Corales last week with four rounds under par including a Sunday 67. He missed the cut at the Indian Open at the end of March, but has been steady on the DP World Tour this season, with six Top 20s in nine events. Like his brother, Alex is a solid driver and strong putter. 

Last year, the Fitzpatricks finished T-19 at the Zurich, with two rounds of 62 during fourball and rounds of 71 and 74 in alternate shot. If they can make up some strokes in the latter format, they’ll be in contention this week, because both make a ton of birdies off their own ball. 

Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

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