Zurich Classic of New Orleans Preview, Picks & Analysis

Post by Sports Writer Derek Clements

SINCE June 2010, Justin Rose has won seven tournaments in the United States, including the 2013 US Open. There are many golfers who retire from the game and consider that to be a successful career, but Rose wants more. Much more. Another major to add to the US Open, for starters.

This week sees the 35-year-old Englishman defend his title at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, where 12 months ago his 22 under par total of 266 was good enough to beat Cameron Tringale by one shot. Rose has never made a successful defence but if ever he is going to do it, TPC Louisiana might just be the place. It is a par 72 that measures 7,341 yards and is a course that requires patience, something Rose has in spades.

It is for that reason that most people believe the US Open represents his best chance of another major or two. Long rough, lightning-fast greens, unfair pin placements, run-off areas that would reduce most mere mortals to tears - it's the sort of stuff that Rose takes in his stride.

What may have escaped your attention is that he has suddenly become sneaky-long from the tee, regularly smashing the ball 300-plus yards out there. He was always a great iron player and blessed with a glorious short game, but he stunned his supporters when he turned up at The Masters using a claw grip on his putter. Common sense dictates that if something ain't broke, you don't try to fix it. And Rose's putting stroke was working just fine. Now Ernie Els, that's a different matter altogether. Turned out that Rose had been doing some work using the latest computer wizardry and the stats told him he would putt better with a claw grip, so he bit the bullet. And, of course, he putted just about as well as anybody else did at Augusta.

Previous recent winners of this event include Jason Bohn (2010), Bubba Watson (2011), Jason Dufner (2012), Billy Horschel (2013) and Seung-Yul Noh (2014). If you are looking for a winner, that list will tell you nothing at all as they have not one thing in common - other than the fact that they are all previous winners. It means that picking a likely winner is an even more difficult task than normal, but it is likely to be somebody who drives the ball well and is a world-class iron player.

All logic should bring you right back to Rose, so he is going to be my pick, but not with a huge amount of confidence. No, I've changed my mind - it's Jason Dufner. Or it could be Charley Hoffman. Or Jason Day.

You may have figured out that I am really struggling this week, OK, here we go. Before the Texas Open I would have said that it was impossible to look beyond Charley Hoffman, who has been playing some of the best golf of his life lately, but that victory in Texas may take a little while to recover from. Hoffman does fit the criteria though - he is a big hitter, a straight hitter and a superb iron player. And although he is a streaky putter, when his eye is in he can roll them in from anywhere. He should have won plenty of tournaments by now but has a habit of throwing in the odd howler.

There will be a lot of attention on Jason Day, who went into The Masters as a red-hot favourite, tore up the front nine on the opening day and then disappeared without further ado. Arguably, nobody strikes the ball better, more often than the Australian but his confidence took a serious knock at Augusta. Obviously, it won't be long before he is knocking on the door again, but Day has reached the point in his career when he is interested only in winning majors.

I have told you before to keep an eye on Patton Kizzire, who is one of the brightest prospects on the PGA Tour. He raced through the Web.com Tour in 2015 and has already produced some sterling finishes on the main tour. This young man has the complete game, and I assure you that it won't be long before he wins his first title. It is not without the bounds of possibility that he could even force his way into the US Ryder Cup team. He really is that good. A top-five finish this week will do him nicely, and this course will suit him perfectly.

And then there is Billy Horschel. The former FedEx Cup winner wears his heart on his sleeve, which is great when he is playing well because he feeds off it. And guess what? He is playing well again. I've made up my mind - it's Horschel to win. Maybe...

To Win

Billy Horschel. I have a feeling Billy is due

Each Way

Justin Rose. Must make a successful defence at some point

Each Way

Patton Kizzire. Great swing, better attitude

Fantasy Picks

Billy Horschel. Will start to worry if he doesn't win soon

Justin Rose. Mr Consistency

Patton Kizzire. Could become one of the very best

Chris Kirk. Underrated

Daniel Berger. Beautiful swing and temperament

Rickie Fowler. Has gone off the boil a little, but not for long

Smylie Kaufman. Showed at Augusta he belongs at this level

Chez Reavie. Ready for breakthrough

Charley Hoffman. On the crest of a wave

Charles Howell III. Has done everything but win in 2016