Zurich Classic of New Orleans Betting Tips 2026: Expert Picks for the PGA Tour's team event

The PGA Tour heads to TPC Louisiana this week for one of the most unique and entertaining events of the season — the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

As the PGA Tour’s only official team event of the season, it presents a completely different challenge for players and punters alike, with chemistry and compatibility often proving just as important as individual talent.

After a frustrating near-miss for our betting tips at last week’s RBC Heritage — where two selections finished inside the top 12 but just outside the each-way places — attention quickly turns to bouncing back at a venue that consistently delivers low scoring and unpredictable leaderboards.

Encouragingly, our broader run of form remains strong. Over the past seven weeks, we have picked two winners at odds of 22/1 and 35/1, alongside six top-five finishes. It’s therefore been a hugely profitable period for each-way backers, even if last week didn’t quite deliver the headline result.

This week’s challenge is a very different beast.

Understanding the team format

Unlike a standard PGA Tour event, the Zurich Classic of New Orleans blends two formats across four rounds. The first and third rounds are played as fourball (best ball), which typically produces aggressive, low scoring, while the second and final rounds switch to foursomes (alternate shot), a far more demanding format where mistakes are quickly punished.

Check out all the Zurich Classic teams

Only the top 33 teams and ties progress beyond the halfway cut from a starting field of 80 teams, meaning there is little margin for error early in the week.

Success here hinges on balance. Teams must take advantage of the birdie-friendly fourball rounds, while surviving — and ideally thriving — in the high-pressure alternate shot format. Foursomes, in particular, is often where the tournament is decided. One off day from a single player can quickly derail a team’s chances, making trust, communication and compatibility absolutely vital.

What it takes to win here

TPC Louisiana is set up for scoring, but it still asks the right questions. It's a par 72 and measures 7,425 yards. Winning totals have reached 25-under par or lower in each of the last four years, underlining the need for an aggressive mindset.

Approach play is crucial, with players needing to consistently create makeable birdie chances, while a hot putter can separate teams quickly, especially in the fourball rounds. Driving is relatively forgiving, but only to a point. There is water in play and enough danger off the tee to punish those who stray too far offline.

Ultimately, this is a tournament about creating opportunities and taking them — repeatedly.

What's the betting strategy?

With 80 teams in the field and a format that naturally increases volatility, this is a week to lean into value.

Strong partnerships, whether through friendship, shared experience or similar playing styles, are a major advantage. Form of course also plays a key role, particularly players arriving with confidence on the greens.

Then you have subtle details to consider such as players being comfortable using the same golf ball, or a similar version at least. The choice of golf ball at the Zurich Classic is extremely important in the alternate shot format.

Follow our Editor and expert tipster on social media - @AndyRobertsGolf

Players rely heavily on the feel of a golf ball around the greens, and they also need to know exactly how far a ball travels, and its spin characteristics, with each of their clubs in order to control distance.

Shane Lowry and Brooks Koepka narrowly head the betting at 10/1 and, on paper, they look a very strong new pairing. Lowry won this event alongside Rory McIlroy in 2024, and they finished tied 12th together again last year.

But six-time major champion McIlroy has chosen to sit this one out after successfully defending his Masters title two weeks ago, and that has opened the door for Lowry to select a new partner in five-time major champion Koepka.

Lowry and Koepka's friendship, shared practice time and elite pedigree make them an obvious threat here. They are also both Srixon staffers, and play very similar Z-STAR model balls.

However, their price looks a little skinny for us in what feels like a wide-open event, and there are slight concerns around Lowry after his draining near-miss at The Masters just two weeks ago where he tumbled out of contention in the final round.

The Irishman still sounded incredibly downbeat about his closing 80 at Augusta National when speaking to reporters en route to a a tie for 42nd at last week's RBC Heritage.

Perhaps this more relaxed team environment with his good pal Koepka will revitalize him, and if it does then they could very well be the team that everyone has to beat on Sunday.

We're prepared to look past the favourites though, and find a little better value for you.

Let's dive in...

Zurich Classic Betting Tips 2026

Pick 1: Matt Fitzpatrick & Alex Fitzpatrick

Best Odds: 12/1

Matt Fitzpatrick arrives in red-hot form, with two wins in his last three PGA Tour starts, and it is hard to ignore the momentum he is carrying into this week. There is a slight concern that this marks his third consecutive start, which could bring fatigue into play, but confidence in golf can be a powerful thing and he appears to have plenty of it right now.

The Englishman won the Valspar Championship last month, finished tied 18th at The Masters two weeks ago and then took down world number one Scottie Scheffler with a birdie on the first extra hole to win a second RBC Heritage title on Sunday.

Fitzpatrick's younger brother Alex, meanwhile, is far from a supporting act this week.

A first win on the DP World Tour at the Hero Indian Open last month, along with a strong showing at the Joburg Open before that, suggests he is beginning to find his feet at the top level.

Playing alongside his older brother should only enhance his growing levels of comfort and confidence, albeit this is on the main stage of the PGA Tour where he is not yet an official member.

Alex will have every chance to graduate to the PGA Tour for 2027 via the DP World Tour Rankings at the end of this season, and as it stands he is well on track to do just that as he ranks seventh in the Race to Dubai.

This Fitzpatrick pairing has already shown it can compete together at TPC Louisiana before, finishing tied 19th in 2023 and tied 11th in 2024.

While they missed the cut together last April, that came during a quieter period for Matt and before Alex’s recent breakthrough, so it is easy enough to forgive.

Their partnership is built on familiarity and trust, and that could prove invaluable in the foursomes.

With both players arriving in form and highly motivated to win together, something Matt spoke about during his victory speech at the RBC Heritage, they look a particularly strong contender for the title this week.

Of all the teams towards the front of the betting market, the Fitzy Bros look the most prudent play at best odds 12/1.

Pick 2: Michael Thorbjornsen & Karl Vilips

Best Odds: 20/1

Michael Thorbjornsen and Karl Vilips look like a classic Zurich Classic pairing — young, talented and already well-acquainted with each other’s games. Their shared history at Stanford University, where they played together for four years, gives them a significant edge in terms of understanding and communication.

That chemistry has already translated into results at this event, with the duo finishing tied fourth on debut last season, a performance that immediately catches the eye.

Thorbjornsen appears particularly close to a breakthrough victory. He has already recorded 10 top-10 finishes in 54 starts on the PGA Tour and he showed his potential again recently at The Players Championship, even if a final-round 77 halted his challenge. He failed to make the Masters field, but after a slow start at last week's RBC Heritage, encouraginly bounced back with a closing 65 to finish tied 33rd. That Sunday performance should give him a lot of confidence heading into this week.

Vilips, meanwhile, brings his own credentials, including a first PGA Tour title at the Puerto Rico Open last season.

The Australian has not quite had his best stuff so far this season, with just two top-20 finishes, but he certainly showed a liking for TPC Louisiana 12 months ago and so there is hope this week could re-ignite a spark for him.

Together, this 24-year-old duo form a team that is comfortable, capable and still improving all the time.

In this slightly more laidback team environment, where pressure can ease slightly in the fourballs, it would not be a surprise to see a pairing like this contend and go all the way, just as we saw with good pals Ben Griffin and Andrew Novak breaking through for their first wins here together in 2025.

Thorbjornsen and Vilips offer fantastic each-way value at best odds of 20/1. 

Pick 3: Davis Thompson & Austin Eckroat

Best Odds: 25/1

Davis Thompson and Austin Eckroat may not arrive with the same level of hype as some of the bigger names in the field, but this is a pairing that makes plenty of appeal when you look a little deeper.

They are close friends and have experience being together in team environments, most notably as part of the 2021 United States Walker Cup side, which defeated GB & Ireland 14-12 at Seminole Golf Club.

The Americans are also proven winners on the PGA Tour, having both broken through in 2024, which shows they have the ability to get the job done when in contention. Eckroat has won twice, and Thompson once.

Their 2026 campaigns have been relatively quiet so far, but similarly to Thorbjornsen and Vilips above, that could actually work in their favour. The Zurich Classic often provides a reset opportunity with its more relaxed atmosphere — especially in fourball — allowing players to free up and find some form.

Another subtle advantage is that both players use the same golf ball, a Titleist Pro V1, removing a potential complication in the foursomes and allowing them to focus purely on execution.

They also both arrive at TPC Louisiana well rested, having not played since the Valero Texas Open three weeks ago, which could very well give them an edge over some of the more fatigued teams in this field.

Their biggest strength is their natural chemistry and compatibility, while the main concern is their lack of recent contention, with just three top-20s between them in 2026.

Nevertheless, we think they represent another solid each-way play at best odds of 25/1. 

So these are our three picks for the 2026 Zurich Classic of New Orleans:

• Matt Fitzpatrick / Alex Fitzpatrick - 12/1
• Michael Thorbjornsen / Karl Vilips - 20/1
• Davis Thompson / Austin Eckroat - 25/1

Do you agree with our picks, or do you fancy a different team?  Let us know in the comments below, or come and tell us over on our social media channels - @GolfMagic

As always, please gamble responsibly.

Scroll down to check out the prices of all 80 teams in the field...