The TPC Louisiana course hosts this weeks Zurich Classic of New Orleans © theaposition.com
Justin Rose 20/1 © Keith Allison
This week’s PGA Tour rocks up in New Orleans for the Zurich Classic of New Orleans held at one of Pete Dye’s creations, with a little input from Steven Elkington and Kelly Gibson. Dye has been quoted as saying, PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem “finds a flat site and then he calls me”.
There are no less than 103 bunkers on the TPC Louisiana course with 62 of them being pot bunkers. But don’t be fooled into thinking this course is a one trick pony, far from it, it’s actually hard to believe that this was once just a flat piece of swampland next to New Orleans. This however, did not stop Pete Dye, earth was moved to create mounding, lakes, lagoons and 20 acres of bunkers and waste bunkers, add small greens, towering pines and cypress trees into the mix and you have one tough track.
Weighing in at 7,520 yards it’s not on the short side, but TPC Louisiana is part of Louisiana’s Audubon Golf Trail meaning the course plays hard and fast so it doesn’t play to its true length. You will need patience around here and there are plenty of opportunities to get up and down if you miss the greens on the right side. If you’re aggressive and are not 100% on your game you’ll pay the price.
Ben Crane 50/1
My tips to win:
It’s a bit of a toss up between Justin Rose 20/1 and Luke Donald 12/1, but I am not sure Luke has got back to his best where Justin seems to be getting more consistent in his form this year. Justin has played eight events this year, made the Top-25 in five of them and the Top-10 three times, one of those was his win at the WGC Cadillac Championship.
Keegan Bradley 20/1 hasn’t won this year, which I am sure must be a disappointment as he got himself into some great positions on Saturday but just wasn’t able to close out the tournament with final rounds of 71, 75, 71 in his three Top10 finishes. But I can’t see that lasting long and can see him putting in a good finish very soon.
As many of you who follow my guide will know I have tipped Brandt Snedeker 40/1 many times and he always seems to do well when I have. Brandt has had a great season so far with a win and two other Top-10 finishes. He comes into this tournament after a weeks’ rest and two Top-20 finishes, so look for him to be in the thick of it come Sunday.
Bryce Molder 80/1 © Keith Allison
My each-way tips:
Ben Crane 50/1 comes into this tournament after a couple of weeks rest after the Masters. He has three Top-10 finishes so far this season, with his best finish being a second place at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. I think Ben will add to his four tournament wins on the PGA this year.
To say it has been a rollercoaster year for Matt Every 66/1 would be an understatement, he has four Top-10 finishes, two of which are Top-5 finishes and has missed the cut five times from his eleven tournaments. I am not sure even he knows what to expect when he tees it up, but get him on a good week at these odds and you’ll be happy you backed him.
My outside pick this week is going to be Bryce Molder 80/1 he did miss the cut at the Heritage, but up until that point Bryce had six Top-25 finishes from his nine starts which shows the level of consistency he’s being playing at and I can see him adding to his 2011 Frys.com Open victory now he’s broken though that barrier.
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