The Zurich Classic of New Orleans returns to TPC Louisiana, bringing a unique twist to the PGA Tour with its team-based format. Located in the heart of New Orleans, the tournament is set against the backdrop of vibrant Louisiana culture. Designed by Pete Dye, TPC Louisiana is a mental test for players with wide fairways and large greens. As teams compete in both Four-Ball and Foursome formats, PGA DFS enthusiasts will have a different kind of challenge when building their lineups this week.
Here’s what to look for as we navigate the DFS landscape for the Zurich Classic of New Orleans 2024.
PGA DFS: Zurich Classic of New Orleans 2024
Course Breakdown
- TPC Louisiana
- New Orleans
- Par 72
- 7,400 yards
- Bermuda fairways
- Bermuda greens
TPC Louisiana is another course designed by the master architect Dye, featuring over 100 bunkers and several large ponds. The fairways are wider than average, providing some breathing room, but the course’s true challenge comes from its mental gymnastics and large greens. Approach shots will often be from 200+ yards, meaning a strong iron game is critical for success.
The tournament’s format adds another layer of complexity. The first and third rounds are Four-Ball, where each golfer plays their own ball, and the team’s best score for each hole is recorded. The second and fourth rounds are Foursomes, or alternating shots, requiring coordination and teamwork. There are 80 teams competing but only the top 33 and ties will advance to the weekend, so making the cut requires solid play and a bit of luck.
Weather conditions should be relatively mild, with little moisture and minimal wind, but gusts may increase later in the day. The projected winning score is -30, emphasizing the need for birdie-making teams.
Recent winning teams like Davis Riley/Nick Hardy (-30) and Xander Schauffele/Patrick Cantlay (-29) show that pairs with strong approach games and teamwork tend to perform well.
Stats to Build Around:
- Birdies-or-Better Rate
- Bogey Avoidance
- 3-Putt Avoidance
- Shots Gained Approach
- Shots Gained Scrambling
- Shots Gained Total
- Par-4 Scoring
- Par-5 Scoring
PGA DFS Strategy
Building lineups for this tournament can be tricky due to the team format. For this reason, it can be safer to focus on single-entry and smaller-field tournaments, with a preference for players who have proven themselves in both individual and team competitions.
Zurich Classic of New Orleans 2024 PGA DFS Plays
(Prices courtesy of DraftKings)
High-Tier Plays ($9,000 & Above)
- Patrick Cantlay/Xander Schauffele ($11,200)
- Sahith Theegala/Will Zalatoris ($10,300)
- Matthew Fitzpatrick/Alex Fitzpatrick ($9,700)
- Tom Hoge/Maverick McNealy ($9,400)
High-Tier Fades ($9,000 & Above)
- Collin Morikawa/Kurt Kitayama ($10,000)
- Nick Taylor/Adam Hadwin ($9,200)
- Nicolai Hojgaard/Rasmus Hojgaard ($9,100)
Mid-Tier Plays ($7,000-$8,900)
- Billy Horschel/Tyson Alexander ($8,900)
- Davis Thompson/Andrew Novak ($8,100)
- Austin Eckroat/Chris Gotterup ($7,900)
- Steve Stricker/Matt Kuchar ($7,500)
- Thriston Lawrence/Aldrich Potgieter ($7,100)
Mid-Tier Fades ($7,000-$8,900)
- Keith Mitchell/Joel Dahmen ($8,800)
- Kevin Yu/CT Pan ($7,800)
- Zach Johnson/Ryan Palmer ($7,100)
Low-Tier Plays ($7,000 & Below)
- Mac Meissner/Austin Smotherman ($6,700)
- Hayden Springer/Tom Whitney ($6,700)
- J.J. Spaun/Hayden Buckley ($6,600)
- Jimmy Stanger/Adrien Dumont de Chassart ($6,500)
- Kelly Kraft/Kevin Tway ($6,400)
Low-Tier Fades ($7,000 & Below)
- Cam Champ/MJ Daffue ($6,800)
- Eric Cole/Russ Cochran ($6,600)
- Parker Coody/Pierceson Coody ($6,600)
- Charley Hoffman/Nick Watney ($6,200)
- Alejandro Tosti/Ted Potter Jr. ($6,100)
Check out all of our content for the Zurich Classic of New Orleans 2024:
- Between Bets: Zurich Classic of New Orleans 2024 Outrights
- PropKings: Zurich Classic of New Orleans 2024
- PGA DFS: Zurich Classic of New Orleans 2024
Good luck this week! Thanks for checking out our PGA DFS picks for the Zurich Classic of New Orleans 2024, and be sure to check out our golf crew live every Tuesday night at 8:30 p.m. EST on the 19th Hole!
*Photo Credit: Andrew Wevers – USA TODAY Sports*