Zurich Classic Preview: The Two-Patricks Strategy

The PGA Tour heads to New Orleans this week for its annual team event, and while the novelty of this event seems to be wearing off, it does provide a nice break from the standard format that can get old as the season wears on. With the new schedule, however, we don't have the long stretches between the majors like we had previously, so it will be interesting to see if this event hangs on as is. When this format first surfaced in 2017, it was thought that the powerhouse teams would rise to the top, but that hasn't been the case as the likes of Jonas Blixt, Cameron Smith, Scott Piercy and Billy Horschel have taken the top prize over the first two years. Not exactly chumps to be fair, but not elite either. In other words, don't just jump on the big names this week.  

This Week: Zurich Classic – TPC Louisiana, New Orleans 

Last Year: Scott Piercy and Billy Horschel shot a final-round 67 on their way to a one-stroke victory over Jason Dufner and Pat Perez.  

FAVORITES

Jason Day/Adam Scott (7-1) 

On paper, this team looks tough to beat, but remember, the favorites have not fared well the first two years of this format. Does that mean that a favorite can't perform well here? No, but at 7-1, there's just no reason to go this route. Day has played this event each of the last two years with little success and Scott has yet to play this event in the current format.                                    

Tommy Fleetwood/Sergio Garcia (8-1)   

Another super pairing that probably won't live up to the hype. There is hope for this team, though, in that Fleetwood finish T4 last year when paired with Chris Paisley. If you are wondering who Chris Paisley is, you are not alone, but just because Garcia appears to be an upgrade on paper as a teammate for Fleetwood, does not mean that he'll fare better this year. Golf simply doesn't work like that. Besides, Garcia had some trouble here last year, missing the cut with Rafa Cabrera Bello. 

Patrick Cantlay/Patrick Reed (12-1) 

If you are big on continuity, you might consider taking this team. Reed and Cantlay have been paired in this event the first two years and they've played pretty well both times. They finished T14 in 2017 and improved to a T7 last year. Considering Cantlay's form, another bump up the standings might be in store. Reed hasn't had his best form this season, but he's been good enough to make 10 of 11 cuts and he doesn't have to have his best stuff this week if Cantlay is on, he just needs to contribute here and there.                                                     

MID-TIER GOLFERS                          

Billy Horschel/Scott Piercy (18-1) 

Piercy accomplished little on his own last year, but he contributed enough to his team last year to come out with a victory in this spot. Considering his individual form is better entering this year's event than last year's, there's reason to believe this team could again hoist the trophy. As for Horschel, he's not in the same form he was entering last year's event, but perhaps Piercy can be the one to pick up the slack this year.                                                   

Graeme McDowell/Henrik Stenson (20-1) 

Henrik Stenson played the first two years of this event with Justin Rose and the pair didn't have a ton of success, which would make a normal person think that Stenson has little chance of succeeding with a lesser teammate, but as you know, golf is funny. It would make little sense that downgrading from Rose to McDowell would lead to better things, but sometimes teammates just click and sometimes they don't. McDowell has played some great golf the last month and could be the boost that Stenson needs.   

Kevin Kisner/Scott Brown (30-1) 

Again with this pairing, we are leaning on continuity over star power. This team has fared well in its two starts here, posting a runner-up in 2017 and a T15 last year. Individually, you'd never bet on Scott Brown and outside the match-play event, you'd probably never take Kisner, but together, that's a different story. Fair warning, though, this teams runs hot and cold. They closed this event with a 60 in 2017 and a 77 in 2018. You never know what you are going to get, but the upside is certainly there.                                                       

LONGSHOTS

Brooks Koepka/Chase Koepka (40-1)  

How in the world can you back a team with a guy who is not even on the PGA Tour? The same thought entered my mind in 2017 and this team managed a top-5. Sure, there's a lot of pressure on Brooks in this format, but when is he at this best? That's right, when the pressure is on and there's a lot at stake. While there isn't as much at stake this week as there is during a major, I have to imagine that Brooks would love to help his brother get a win on the PGA Tour.                                           
Jason Dufner/Pat Perez (50-1) 

Again, a pair that I'm probably not giving much consideration to individually, but in this spot, they deserve some attention. The driving force behind this team is Dufner, who has two top-5s at this event with different teammates. The first year he paired with Patton Kizzire and last year, he was with Perez. Considering they were one-stroke from a playoff last year, 50-1 seems pretty generous. 

ONE AND DONE GOLFER 

Highly Owned Pick: Adam Scott/Jason Day - I should mention that there seems to be no standard set for this format when it comes to one-and-done pools, and I can only go on what I've seen. In my pool, you can select either player from a team and only that player is burnt for the season. In this case, it would be Scott OR Day, which certainly makes it much easier to take this pair.        

Moderately Owned Pick: Billy Horschel/Scott Piercy - This team is in-play no matter how your league determines who is burnt as neither Piercy or Horschel hold a ton of value down the stretch. Horschel would obviously hold more value, but there likely isn't a better spot down the stretch to use him that here.      

Lightly Owned Pick: Jason Dufner/Pat Perez - Neither player is having a great season on his own, which likely will lead to low ownership this week, but to overlook this team would be a mistake. If you are looking to make up ground this week, this pair should be on your radar.            

Buyer Beware: Tommy Fleetwood/Sergio Garcia - You should really beware of all big-name combos this week, and Garcia/Fleetwood are really just representing that notion. This particular pair looks enticing on paper, but better pairs have failed miserably at this event in the past. Both players also have value down the road, specifically at the Open Championship.            

Last Week: Branden Grace (T61) - $14,973; Season - $4,370,277  

This Week: Patrick Reed/Patrick Cantlay - In my one-and-done pool that is active this week, I can take one player and not burn the other in which case, I'll probably go with the Koepka's, but for those that might be burning both players, you'd obviously want to save Koepka for a major. In that case, I would look to a team like Reed/Cantlay, who have some value down the stretch, but not so much that you'd hold off from using them here.                                      

FANDUEL PICKS  

High/Mid/Low: No game this week.

SURVIVOR PICK 

Last Week: Matt Kuchar - (2); Streak - 1 

This Week: Patrick Reed/Patrick Cantlay- Again, not knowing the specific rules, it's tough to just throw a team out there, but all things being equal, this team has as good of a chance as any at making the cut. I'd also be comfortable with Dufner's or Kisner's team in this format.