Zurich Classic of New Orleans Preview

Sky Sports provided great drama on Sunday night as Brandt Snedeker bested Luke Donald on a third playoff hole to claim the Heritage Classic. Both these men now head south to the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, where the PGA Tour will provide participant’s one last tune up before the much anticipated Players Championship next weekend.

Challengers

Luke Donald

Luke Donald is easily the most in form player on the tour at the moment. Now the World Number 2, he has had five straight Top 5 finishes. He has also finished in the Top 10 in nine of his last ten outings. I tipped Donald heavily last weekend and due to his recent form I will continue to do so. Even though he lost out in a playoff at the Heritage Classic, tipping him Each Way and also for a Top 10 finish made sure we still collected some profit. This week, the Englishman leads the betting at 10/1 (Boyle Sports) and is Even Money (Paddy Power) for yet another Top 10 finish.

Steve Stricker

Steve Stricker is yet to record a win this year but has performed consistently well having not missed any cut and carding three Top 10 finishes. His last appearance was at the Masters where he tied 11^th and after his break he will be determined to find form ahead of the Players Championship. Last year, Stricker recorded his first win around this time and I wouldn’t be surprised if he was to do it again this weekend in New Orleans. I really fancy him to be in the later groupings along with Donald come Sunday evening. Stricker is best priced at 16/1 (Victor Chandler) to win and is 13/8 for a Top 10 finish.

Value

Jason Bohn

Jason Bohn returns to New Orleans as defending champion. While he hasn’t been in stand out form in recent months, on a “horses for courses” basis, I think he can not be ignored. He carded -18 last year, 2 shots clear of the field and when one considers that he is 125/1 (Stan James) to repeat his win this year, he is certainly worth a sensible punt. I can’t see his winning but a Top 20 finish at 7/2 (Paddy Power) is certainly within his capabilities.

Jeff Overton

Another of my “horses for courses” tips. Last year Jeff Overton finished as runner up, 2 shots behind Jason Bohn at -16. Rewind a year earlier and Overton carded a tied 13^th finish. On course form, I expect Overton to be another outsider who will, similar to Bohn, not be topping the leader board come Sunday night but is enough value for a Top 20. Overton Top 20 is best at 9/4 (Paddy Power).

Tommy Gainey

I can’t ignore Tommy Gainey. After tipping him last weekend at 150/1 he landed a third place finish. Add this third place finish at the Heritage Classic to his fifth at the Honda Classic and eighth at the Phoenix Open and “Tommy Two Gloves” looks like a man who could be in contention for silverware in the coming weeks. At New Orleans, Gainey is best at 90/1 (Tote Sport) for the win but I’m not getting carried away just yet and going with a Top 20 finish at 5/2 (Sky Bet).

My Tips

1pt EW Luke Donald

1pt EW Steve Stricker

2 Luke Donald Top 10

1pt Overton Top 20

1pt Gainey Top 20

0.5pt Bohn Top 20

• This article was published on www.fightingtips.co.uk.
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