Fresh from his triumphant Masters victory two weeks ago, Rory McIlroy is set to make his return to competitive golf alongside Shane Lowry as the Irish duo defend their Zurich Classic title. McIlroy, who recently ended his 11-year major championship drought at Augusta, will enter the tournament with significantly higher expectations than last year.
The Irish pairing enters as clear favorites with odds shortening to +360, a substantial shift from the +750 odds they carried before claiming victory in a playoff last year. This favorable position is partly due to the absence of 2022 champions Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele, who are not participating in this year's event.
A considerable gap separates McIlroy and Lowry from their closest competitors. Collin Morikawa and Kurt Kitayama hold the second position in the odds table, despite both golfers struggling with form recently. Morikawa managed only a T54 finish at Harbour Town last week, while Kitayama hasn't placed better than T33 in any tournament since October.
According to Statbet, tournament history often weighs heavily in team events like the Zurich Classic, where previous success and partnership chemistry prove critical factors in predicting outcomes.
Several other partnerships are positioned in the +2000 to +2500 range, including Aaron Rai paired with Sahith Theegala at 24/1 odds. Former champion Billy Horschel, who won the event in 2018, will compete alongside new teammate Tom Hoge, also carrying 24/1 odds.
All eyes will undoubtedly be on McIlroy, whose green jacket victory has rejuvenated discussions about his place among golf's elite. The tournament presents his first opportunity to demonstrate whether his major breakthrough will trigger a new period of dominance for the Northern Irishman.
