Fantasy Golf Predictions – The 2013 Zurich Classic

Fantasy Golf Predictions for the 2013 Zurich Classic April 25-28, 2013

The Course:  TPC Louisiana measures 7,425 yards and plays as a par 72. The course is located in the suburbs just west of New Orleans (Westwego, LA) and was designed in 2004 by the infamous course designer Pete Dye. This track features more than 100 bunkers, plus several large waste bunkers along the first six holes of the back nine. TPC Louisiana boasts a series of short but challenging par-4 holes to counterbalance the longer ones while delivering a great blend of challenge and playability. The signature hole on the golf course is the par-5, 18^th hole. Water is in play for the entire right side of the hole, making for a challenging finish for golfers of all skill levels. The Zurich Classic relocated there in 2005.  Last year, TPC Louisiana ranked as the 10th easiest layout on the PGA TOUR schedule.

Photo by TPC.com

The Weather in Westwego, LA (from Weather.com)

• Round 1: Thursday (Apr 25) 75 degrees, 50% chance of rain, showers.
• Round 2: Friday (Apr 26) 79 degrees, 10% chance of rain, partly cloudy.
• Round 3: Saturday (Apr 27) 80 degrees, 20% chance of rain, partly cloudy.
• Round 4: Sunday  (Apr 28) 82 degrees, 30% chance of rain, isolated T-Storms.

2012 Results:  It was here in 2012 that Jason Dufner began making his name known on the PGA Tour, ending his career long winless drought with a victory at the 2012 Zurich.  Duf had to play two extra holes before the birdie that finally pushed him clear of a hard-charging Ernie Els, who eventually fell short. Els made up a three-shot deficit closing with a 67, but missed a long birdie on the final hole of regulation and then went on to miss a 5-foot birdie when they replayed No. 18 to start the playoff.  Dufner reached the green in two on the par 5 playoff and did his “Dufner saunter” up to tap-in the birdie. Dufner’s first victory came after eight years and 164 PGA TOUR starts. He would follow up a few weeks later with his 2^nd win and  eventually went on to compete in his first Ryder Cup in 2012.

Notes:  Dufner will be trying to become the fifth man to win back-to-back in New Orleans and he’s certainly worth a look this week – he hasn’t finished outside the top 10 in his past four visits.  Duf tied for third in 2011, seventh in 2010 and ninth in 2009.  Perhaps it comes as no surprise that “The Big Easy” (Ernie Els) has three top-3 finishes in six starts in “The Big Easy” (New Orleans), though last year was the first time he had played TPC Louisiana.  It was at this site in Louisiana that five of the past eight champions recorded their first ever PGA TOUR win, which is certainly possible to continue this week with all of the talent on TOUR this year.  

Top 5 Picks/Odds to Win to 2013 Zurich Classic:

• Justin Rose (Golficity Odds 9/1): J-Rose has fourteen consecutive top 25s worldwide including a T25 at the Masters. He shared 10th at the 2012 Zurich, while ranking T2 in GIR and 10th in scrambling. Rose is urrently ninth in the all-around and second in both scrambling and par-5 scoring.
• Jason Dufner (Golficity Odds 14/1): The defending champion ranks No. 1 in all-time earnings at this event. As we mentioned above, Duf plays pretty lights out at this track and loves being in the top 10. In our view, there’s no better tournament for his first top 10 of the 2013 season.
• Rickie Fowler (Golficity Odds 20/1): Rickie has been playing some really exceptional golf lately. So far the young superstar is enjoying a solid season with three top 10s among seven cuts made in eight starts.  He currently ranks 22nd in strokes gained-putting, 31st in adjusted scoring and T15 in the all-around. Fowler tied for 10th at the 2012 Zurich, but there’s something about this kid that makes us want to pick him to win this one.
• Bubba Watson (Golficity Odds 22/1): Bubba was the winner here in 2011 but followed it up with a T18 last year. Bubba also struggled in his defense of the Masters two weeks ago (T50), but he has two top 10s and another three top 25s in seven starts in 2013. He also currently leads the TOUR in birdies or better on par 4s.  Bubba could earn that first win of the year here…he certainly has the game to do it.
• Billy Horschel (Golficity Odds 29/1):  Horschel extended his TOUR-leading consecutive cuts made streak to 22 with a T9 at the RBC Heritage. Yes…22 cuts made in a row! Billy ranks first in total birdies and T16 in total driving, 46th in greens hit, 26th in strokes gained-putting and 12th in the all-around. He has 7 top-10s in his career and 4 of them have come so far in 2013.  Horschel has made over $1 million on TOUR this year and is continuing to surprise.

Sleeper Picks/Odds to Win:

• Nick Watney (Golficity Odds 50/1):   We like Watney as a sleeper this week simply because of his overall level of play so far this year. Nick has 41 career top-10s with 5 wins, but only 1 top-10 in 2013.  Not a bad season so far, but also not his best.  He won this event in 2007 at TPC Louisiana but hasn’t finished within the T20 mark in four return trips.
• Jimmy Walker (Golficity Odds 50/1): Walker is second on TOUR behind Horschel with 19 consecutive cuts made (10 cuts made this season). He currently co-leads in par-4 scoring average (3.94), ranks 23rd in greens hit, 34th in strokes gained-putting and 11th in adjusted scoring.  It’s safe to say that Jimmy is due for a win on TOUR…we may even see it before mid-year at this pace.  With 3 top 10s and over $1,062,787 in earnings thus far in 2013, Walker is a safe sleeper pick in just about any tournament he attends right now.

Last Week’s Fantasy Golf Predictions Results (The 2013 RBC Heritage)

• Brandt Snedeker (Golficity Odds 12/1):  T59
• Jim Furyk (Golficity Odds 16/1): T42
• Jason Day (Golficity Odds 22/1): T30
• Matt Kuchar (Golficity Odds 22/1): T35
• Bill Haas (Golficity Odds 33/1):  T24

Sleeper Picks/Odds to Win:

• Aaron Baddeley (Golficity Odds 50/1):  T42
• Boo Weekley (Golficity Odds 50/1):  T42

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(Cover Photo Credit)