2023 Zurich Classic of New Orleans Preview, Picks & Analysis

AFTER weeks of intense pressure, the world’s best golfers have a chance to relax and have a bit of fun this week at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. 

Week in, week out, these guys try to beat each other’s brains out but this tournament has a unique format, giving PGA Tour golfers the chance to pair up with their buddies for what is always a birdie fest.

The defending champions are Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele, who last year held off Sam Burns and Billy Horschel by two strokes in a record-setting, wire-to-wire victory.

Cantlay and Schauffele closed with an even-par-72 in the alternate-shot final round to finish at 29-under 259 at TPC Louisiana, breaking the tournament record of 27 under set by Kevin Kisner-Scott Brown and Jonas Blixt-Cameron Smith in 2017, the first year the tournament was played as a team event.

Cantlay and Schauffele opened with a record 59 in best-ball play and began Sunday at 29 under after shattering the 54-hole record of 23 under.

Local favourite Sam Burns and Billy Horschel pulled within one after birdies at the eighth, 10th and 11th holes. But Burns’ tee shot on the short par-4 16th found the water and a bogey on the par-3 17th left them three behind. They shot 68. Doc Redman and Sam Ryder were third at 24 under after a 67.

Cantlay, who was the defending FedExCup champion and PGA Tour Player of the Year, won what was his seventh Tour title and his first since the Tour Championship in September 2021. 

It was Schauffele’s fifth PGA Tour title and his first since 2019, but it would signal the start of a magnificent run of form.

Unsurprisingly, Cantlay and Schauffele are back to defend their title and will start the week as hot favourites. And there is a more serious side to this - these two are likely to be playing together for the United States at the Ryder Cup later this year and this event gives them an opportunity to get even more comfortable in one another’s company. Why wouldn’t US captain Zach Johnson put them together again in Italy?

There are several other interesting partnerships worth keeping an eye on, especially with the Ryder Cup in mind.

You have to believe that Collin Morikawa and Max Homa will be a formidable pairing. And Burns and Horschel are also back, with Horschel absolutely determined to make it to Marco Simone Golf Club.

European captain Luke Donald and his deputy Edoardo Molinari are also in action alongside their American counterparts Johnson and Steve Stricker, still a formidable competitor in his 50s. 

Americans Kurt Kitayama and Taylor Montgomery are dark horses who are worth keeping an eye on. Kitayama is now a tournament winner and Montgomery is a man who makes birdies for fun.

Flying the flag for Europe will be US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick and his younger brother Alex, who is a formidable competitor in his own right. Matt has a shocking Ryder Cup record and had been struggling with a neck injury, but there were some positive signs at The Masters that culminated in a thrilling playoff victory over Jordan Spieth in last week's RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links.

I also fancy the chances of Sahith Theegala and Justin Suh. Theegala is still looking for his first success on the PGA Tour but it won’t be long before he puts that right. Suh is a 25-year-old who was the world’s leading amateur. He began the current season with three successive missed cuts but it has been a different story since then. He was tied fifth at the Homa Classic and tied sixth at the Players Championship. Make no mistake - Suh is a proper golfer!

Tournament Winners

It was won in 2017 and Jonas Blixt and Cameron Smith, in 2018 by Scott Piercey and Billy Horschel, in 2019 by Jon Rahm and Ryan Palmer. In 2021 by Marc Leishman and Cameron Smith and last year by Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay. There was no tournament in 2020 because of the pandemic. Two-time winner Cameron Smith is not in the field as he has joined LIV Golf.  

Form Guide

It is difficult to see beyond Cantlay and Schauffele, who should be the perfect partnership once again. Schauffele hasn’t been at his best this season but he loves this format. Collin Morikawa showed some sparkling form at Augusta and is partnered by Max Homa, who may be the most improved golfer on the PGA Tour.

The Course

TPC Louisiana was designed by Pete Dye and Steve Elkington. It is a par 72 that measures 7,425 yards. The individual course record is 61. It features hundreds of Cypress and oak trees, several water hazards and more than 100 bunkers. In other words, it is a typical Pete Dye layout that rewards accurate play. The signature hole is the par-five 18th, with water all the way down the right.

To Win:

Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele. Defending champions

Each Way:

Collin Morikawa and Max Homa. Certain to make lots of birdies

Each Way:

Sahith Theegala and Justin Suh. Could go really low

Five Pairs to Follow:

Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele. Will start as hot favourites

Collin Morikawa and Max Homa. If they click they will be very hard to beat

Sahith Theegala and Justin Suh. First PGA Tour wins cannot be far away

Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick. Matt is fit again and will love playing with his brother

Byeong Hun An and S.H. Kim. An exciting partnership