Fantasy Golf Picks, Odds, and Predictions – 2022 Zurich Classic

Fantasy Golf Picks, Odds, and Predictions for the 2022 Zurich Classic 

Zurich Classic Fantasy Preview

Is there anybody in world golf capable of winning with their C game quite like Jordan Spieth?

A week after missing the cut at one of his favorite playgrounds at Augusta, Spieth went and took down the RBC Heritage despite some startling putting statistics.
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He lost -0.63 strokes on the greens for an SG: Putting rank of 60, and in the end made just 13 birdies across the week, but Spieth – as Spieth does – found a way to win the trophy and the tartan jacket after defeating Patrick Cantlay in a playoff.

As you may have guessed, the 28-year-old was in rather better form from tee-to-green – that was the only way he had a cat in hell’s chance of winning the tournament, and a clutch ten-footer at his 72nd hole to take the clubhouse lead showed that Spieth could still roll the rock when required.

As Shane Lowry fluffed his lines, Cantlay put a bogey at 14 behind him to birdie the seventeenth and book his ticket to a playoff with Spieth, but he will have been mystified as to the manner in which he lost at the first extra hole.

Cantlay inexplicably hit a 9-iron into a greenside bunker, and Spieth’s short game was in better order from the sand and he pipped the FedEx Cup champion to the post.

It’s a change of scenery this week and a change of format – the Zurich Classic will test the skill (and friendship) of a number of high-class duos.

Last Week’s Fantasy Results

Zurich Classic Field

There’s quality wherever you look in this Zurich Classic field, with defending champions Cameron Smith and Marc Leishman facing off against the likes of Collin Morikawa and Viktor Hovland, Cantlay and Xander Schauffele, and Sam Burns and Billy Horschel.

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Ryan Palmer, who traditionally buddies up with Jon Rahm, has a new partner this year in the not-inconsiderable shape of Scottie Scheffler, while Tommy Fleetwood and Sergio Garcia – runners-up here in 2019 – will be looking to go one better this time around.

Plus there’s Chilean pair Joaquin Niemann and Mito Pereira, ball-striking bros Max Homa and Talor Gooch, and talented youngsters Will Zalatoris and Davis Riley to name just a few more.

This Week’s Course Preview

It’s Pete Dye, Jim, but not as we know it.

The devil’s favorite course architect was on duty for TPC Louisiana, our host this week, but he must have been in a fair mood when drawing up the blueprints.

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Yes, there’s his traditional bunkering – 100s of them in fact line the real estate, and five different water hazards, but for the most part this is a layout safe from Dye’s traditional obstacles and demons.

A considerable 7,425 yards for its Par 72, TPC Louisiana is built on former wetlands in Avondale – it probably plays longer than its yardage, in truth, and the Bermuda greens (overseeded with Poa) are slower than you would see from the TOUR average.

The fairways are wide but the greens are small – could it be a case of grip it and rip it at TPC Louisiana this week?

Weather Forecast for Avondale, LA

It’s a typically warm and windy week ahead in the Lonestar State.

Indeed, the four days of action are almost identical in their make-up – a mixture of cloud and sunny spells, with temperatures around the 84˚F mark across the board. The wind could be interesting, with 15mph listed in the early predictions for Thursday onwards.

Thankfully, there’s not too much chance of rain according to the forecast – making a damp course even wetter would turn TPC Louisiana into a low scoring haven.

AVONDALE WEATHER

Last Year’s Results from the Zurich Classic

Winning the Zurich Classic was just one element of a trophy-laden year for Cameron Smith, who along with his playing partner Marc Leishman produced a typically feisty show of Australian grit when in contention.

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They ground out a final round of 70 to force a playoff against the duo Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel, and when Oosthuizen hit his drive into the water on the second hole of extra time – under the foursomes format – the Aussies were able to convert and the South Africans, presumably, were unable to make eye contact.

The alternative shot format generally results in higher scores than better ball, that’s a given, but Peter Uihlein and Richy Werenski posted an excellent 67 on the Sunday – catapulting themselves from 18th into third place behind Smith & Leishman and Oosthuizen & Schwartzel.

Where to Play Fantasy Golf for the Zurich Classic this Week

There is some pessimism when it comes to playing unique formats within daily fantasy golf, but actually the Zurich Classic is a pretty fun test of strategy and forward-thinking when you take the time to consider your options. So there’s no harm trying to take advantage of the confusion of others!

• PGA $300k Drive the Green: Of course, there’s no harm in taking baby-steps if this is your first look at Zurich Classic DFS, and obviously a $5 entry contest with a top prize of $50k manages to balance low risk with plenty of reward.
• PGA $60k Dogleg: If you really want to try and maximize your edge this week, there’s a single-entry game here that pays $10k to the winner. You’ll have to stump up $33 for the privilege of entering, but this game provides plenty of opportunities if your line-up gets on a heater.

This Week’s Fantasy Notes for the Zurich Classic  

So things are obviously a bit different from a DFS standpoint this week, and it’s worth getting to grips with the rules from the outset.

You are allowed to draft one player from each pair, and you will score the requisite points that the duo delivers – regardless of who makes the final putt.

Rounds one and three of the Zurich Classic are played to the fourball rules – that is, each pair picks the ball they believe gives them the best chance of posting a decent score on the hole. In rounds two and four it becomes foursomes (alternate ball), where one player drives, the next hits the iron shot and the first player then makes the putt….that’s the idea on Par 4 holes, anyway.

So you might already be drumming up some ideas about the strategies you want to deploy, and for us it’s a week all about ball-striking. At least one of the players of each pair you pick has to be a solid and, preferably, long hitter of the ball. Why? Because they will add value in both formats of the tournament.

We also like players whose skillsets compliment each other. So, if one of the pair hits their drive 320 yards, and the other player is a classy operator with wedges in hand, you can already see how that might be very rewarding for them.

We shouldn’t forget the other basic parameters – this is Texan golf, with its unique winds and conditions, and so it’s worth considering the event as you would any other strokeplay contest in the Lonestar State on a Pete Dye layout.

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Our Top 5 (and Top 2 Sleeper) Fantasy Picks and Odds to Win the Zurich Classic  

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Top 5 Picks/Odds to Win the Zurich Classic 

Top Tier Pick #1:

Viktor Hovland (Odds: 8/1, FPPG: 95.9, GPFP: 76.74 Salary: $10,700)

(partnered by Collin Morikawa)

It’s pretty much the chalk pick of the event, let’s be honest, but if you were going to put together a hybrid golfer of the modern age then Viktor Hovland’s driving and Collin Morikawa’s iron play would be close to top of the list.

Both are equally capable in the alternative department too, both can putt and both are proven winners – that’s all very helpful.

Yes, both are pretty poor around the greens relative to the rest of their game, but at a soft layout – and assuming there will a high fairway count from this duo – that doesn’t have to be too much of an issue.

Key Stats:

• SG: Approach – 3rd
• Birdie Average – 4th
• SG: Off-the-Tee – 11th

Top Tier Pick #2:

Max Homa (Odds: 28/1, FPPG: 73.0, GPFP: 74.76 Salary: $9,100)

(partnered by Talor Gooch)

Here’s a classy pair of ball-strikers with a complimentary skillset at the business end of holes.

Both Max Homa and Talor Gooch are excellent drivers of a golf ball and quality on approach too – whether better ball or alternative shot, you won’t see too much of a drop-off in class.

Hopefully, that will minimize the number of missed greens – Homa is not the best when faced with a chip shot of any kind, but both are solid putters and will, if at their best, rain down birdies on TPC Louisiana.

Key Stats:

• Birdie Average – 30th
• SG: Off-the-Tee – 31st
• SG: Approach – 34th

Mid-Tier Pick #1:

Adam Svensson (Odds: 66/1, FPPG: 54.9, GPFP: 43.95 Salary: $8,00)

(partnered by Adam Hadwin)

With six PGA TOUR top-10 finishes between them this term and nine top-25s, the Zurich Classic finds the form of Adams Hadwin and Svensson in rude health.

Both have flirted with trophies this season without threatening to get over the line, so perhaps pairing them together will aid them in their quest for silverware?

The symmetry between these Canadians is such that they both finished T26 at the RBC Heritage, where both hit some quality approach shots with Hadwin solid around the greens and Svensson putting pretty well. Could that twin threat push them close to glory once more?

Key Stats:

• SG: Approach – 46th
• Greens in Regulation – 51st
• Driving Accuracy – 65th

Mid-Tier Pick #2:

Joseph Bramlett (Odds: 80/1, FPPG: 51.3, GPFP: 41.01 Salary: $7,700)

(partnered by Maverick McNealy)

In some ways, Joseph Bramlett must wish he could play with a partner every week.

Long off the tee and a pretty good striker of his irons, he sadly lacks any quality in the short game department whatsoever.

But he scorched home with a round of 64 at the RBC Heritage, and in Maverick McNealy he is joined by a partner with a sure hand on the greens. Both are decent on approach and off the peg, so it will be interesting to see what they can achieve this week.

Key Stats:

• Greens in Regulation – 26th
• SG: Off-the-Tee – 33rd
• SG: Approach – 61st

Low-Tier Pick: 

Sahith Theegala (Odds: 100/1, FPPG: 64.4, GPFP: 51.51 Salary: $7,500)

(partnered by Beau Hossler)

So far this season, Sahith Theegala has impressed with his consistency if nothing else – he has made the cut in 14/18 starts this term, which is highly impressive.

Here he’s paired with Beau Hossler, a player who ranks 28th on TOUR for Driving Distance and seventh for SG: Putting.

And so this could be a very handy combination indeed, with both going close to winning in recent weeks and months – Hossler could and perhaps should have converted at the Texas Open.

Key Stats:

• Scrambling – 65th
• SG: Around-the-Green – 82nd
• SG: Off-the-Tee – 87th

Sleeper Pick for the Zurich Classic 

Austin Smotherman (Odds: 150/1, FPPG: 53.3, GPFP: 42.60 Salary: $7,100)

(partnered by Harry Higgs)

Statistically speaking, Harry Higgs’ game never looks that great on the spreadsheet – but here’s a guy with a T9 finish at a quality CJ Cup renewal and T14 at The Masters to his name.

Contrast that with Austin Smotherman, who ranks 18th for SG: Approach and 32nd for SG: Off-the-Tee, but whose results don’t reflect the facts.

So Higgs & Smotherman is like an unpredictable stud meeting golf’s answer to a faulty algorithm….it will be interesting to see what comes from the Dallas duo.

Key Stats:

• SG: Approach – 18th
• SG: Off-the-Tee – 32nd
• Greens in Regulation – 61st

Alternative Sleeper Pick for the Zurich Classic  

Alex Smalley (Odds: 150/1, FPPG: 57.0, GPFP: 45.62 Salary: $7,000)

(partnered by Hayden Buckley)

What happens when you take two players that rank 24th and 58th on TOUR for greens in regulation, but who can’t putt, and pair them together?

A recipe for disaster, perhaps, and a possible doubling of the agony. But there’s plenty to be said about a pair of ball-strikers together in this format, and maybe their woes on the dancefloor will be eased by their strength in numbers.

With six combined top-25s on TOUR this term, they’re certainly not beyond all hope.

Key Stats:

• SG: Off-the-Tee – 51st
• Greens in Regulation – 56th
• Scoring Average – 76th

This Week’s Sample Fantasy Lineup

Note: Sample lineups provided as examples only.  Be sure to mix-and-match players to best fit individual contests.

 

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Fantasy Golf Predictions This Season (2021-2022)

[skill_bar heading=”Total Top 3s” percent=”4.16%” bar_text=7 out of 168 picks” style=”background-color: #5fb341″][skill_bar heading=”Total Top 10s” percent=”22.02%” bar_text=”37 out of 168 picks” style=”background-color: #5fb341″][skill_bar heading=”Total Top 25s” percent=”35.11%” bar_text=59 out of 168 picks” style=”background-color: #5fb341″][skill_bar heading=”Total Winners Picked” percent=”29.16%” bar_text=”7 out of 24 events” style=”background-color: #5fb341″][skill_bar heading=”Total Runners-Up Picked” percent=”16.67%” bar_text=”4 out of 24 events” style=”background-color: #5fb341″][skill_bar heading=”Total Made Cuts (Includes Sleepers)” percent=”69.64%” bar_text=”117 out of 168 picks” style=”background-color: #5fb341″]

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Cover Photo via Instagram