The PGA Tour's unique team competition returns to TPC Louisiana as the Zurich Classic prepares to showcase golf's finest duos. Defending champions Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry have emerged as the clear betting frontrunners with +360 odds ahead of this year's tournament.
The Irish pairing leads a competitive field that includes notable teams like Collin Morikawa/Kurt Kitayama (+1200) and the Thomas Detry/Robert MacIntyre combination at +1800.
Among the interesting teams to watch this week are Aaron Rai and Sahith Theegala (+2800), who bring complementary skills to their fourth appearance together at this event. While Theegala has experienced inconsistent form early in 2025, Rai has demonstrated remarkable stability, with three consecutive Top 25 finishes at TPC Louisiana, including a T4 in 2022.
The Scandinavian pairing of Jesper Svensson and Niklas Norgaard (+3700) offers intriguing value. Both European Tour winners bring impressive power off the tee, with Norgaard ranking second in driving distance among the field and Svensson not far behind at 12th. Their putting prowess and birdie-making capability (ranking 11th and 14th in birdie average this season) make them particularly well-suited for the four-ball format sessions.
Canadian duo Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin have displayed remarkable consistency at this event, securing a second-place finish two years ago and following it with a solo-10th last season. Their familiarity with the unique format and course knowledge gives them strong top-20 potential.
According to Statbet, the team format significantly alters performance metrics compared to individual tournaments, with successful partnerships often outperforming their combined individual averages by nearly 2.5 strokes per round.
Garrick Higgo arrives with momentum after capturing last week's Corales Puntacana Championship title. Paired with Ryan Fox, they'll look to replicate or improve upon their T4 finish in last year's Zurich Classic.
The Morikawa/Kitayama partnership represents another team with breakout potential. Despite Kitayama's challenging start to 2025, Morikawa's exceptional form (ranking second in tee-to-green metrics and first in approach shots among the field) positions them as strong contenders, particularly in the opening-round four-ball format.
As the only team event on the PGA Tour schedule, the Zurich Classic presents a refreshing change of pace, with alternate shot and four-ball formats testing different aspects of players' games throughout the tournament at TPC Louisiana.
