Golf Expert Picks: Our Staff’s 3 Favorite Bets for the 2019 Zurich Classic

One of the PGA Tour's most unique events takes place this weekend.

The 2019 Zurich Classic at TPC Louisiana features a two-man format featuring 80 teams with best-ball for the first and third rounds, and alternate shot for the second and fourth.

The Australian duo of Jason Day and Adam Scott are the favorites at +800 with Tommy Fleetwood and Sergio Garcia right behind the Aussies at +1000. Patrick Cantlay and Patrick Reed sit third on the board at +1200, Jon Rahm and Ryan Palmer are fourth at +1600 and defending champions Billy Horschel and Scott Piercy are +1800.

Jason Sobel

Bet: Joel Dahmen and Brandon Harkins, Top-20 Finish (+280)

I’m going to start this section where I left off with the previous one.

Again, this is all about these two making the best of a big opportunity here.

I went searching for stats to back up this pick and, well, not much really stands out. Harkins drives it pretty long and Dahmen drives it pretty straight and they both make a pretty high percentage of birdies, but that’s about it. Remember, though: This week is largely about ignoring the analytics.

Fade the chalk, go with your gut.

These guys are +1800 for a top-five finish and +750 for a top-10, but just in case I’m overreaching here, top-20 is a safe play – they just have to finish in the top-quarter of the field! – with a nice potential payoff.

Joshua Perry

Bet: Scott Stallings/Trey Mullinax over Pat Perez/Jason Dufner (-105)

This is more of a fade against the Perez/Dufner duo, who are probably getting a little too much respect here after a runner up finish a year ago.

Neither has played well at all this year. In 13 combined starts in 2019, the pair has no finishes better than 50th. Perez is also making a return from an Achilles injury and may have a little rust to shake off.

Meanwhile, Stallings and Mullinax have popped up on leaderboards throughout the past couple months have both just been making cuts consistently this season. They’re a small underdog in this spot, but probably should be favored.

Drew Stoltz

Bet: Martin Laird/Nick Taylor(-105) over Chesson Hadley/Brice Garnett

This bet is based strictly on the fact that the Hadley/Garnett team has missed a combined six out of their last nine cuts on Tour. Neither player has had a particularly strong year and I am surprised they are the favorites in this match-up.

Martin Laird has missed four out of his last five cuts, himself, but those can be chalked up to awful opening rounds in each of those events. His partner Taylor, on the other hand, has been a cut-making machine, with a few top 25’s sprinkled into the mix, but nothing spectacular.

In my opinion, Laird is the best driver of the ball in this foursome and also has the most birdie-making potential. Having him paired with a very steady player like Taylor, while matched up against Hadley/Garnett, who are both in poor form, makes this my favorite bet of the week.