The Zurich may be an off week for the casuals, but, as that famous soccer (or futbol?) meme states, “We will be there no matter what.”
Sure, the field is not exactly strong and the odds at the top of the board are hardly juicy, but the volatile team format certainly widens the pool of potential winners, and allows you to go fishing for some longshots.
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The Golf Digest betting panel is comprised of Pat Mayo of Underdog/Mayo Media Network, Andy Lack of the Inside Sports Network, Ryan Noonan of Betsperts, your two authors and Keith Stewart, the CEO of Read The Line.
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Scroll down for our complete betting analysis of the 2026 Zurich Classic:
Zurich Classic picks 2026: Our Experts’ Outright Predictions
Pat Mayo, Underdog/Fantasy National, Mayo Media Network analyst: Ryan Gerard/Sudarshan Yellamaraju (17-1, DraftKings) — God blessed us with this last second swap from Ford to Sudar McGavin. Gotta bet it now.
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Keith Stewart, PGA, Read The Line: Aaron Rai/Sahith Theegala (22-1, FanDuel) — Looking for a breakout team? Pair a scorer with an extremely consistent ball striker. Aaron Rai works for the highway commission. The man paints straight lines with his golf shots. Precise, consistent, and calm. Sahith Theegala is a pure scorer. Together, they have eight appearances in the Zurich Classic and six top-25 finishes. I love Rai to keep Theegala out of trouble, and Sahith to help Aaron convert on the greens.
Ryan Noonan, Content Manager 4for4/Betsperts: Matt Fitzpatrick/Alex Fitzpatrick (12-1, FanDuel) — Matt is arguably the hottest player in the world right now, and little brother, Alex, has three straight T-14 or better finishes on the DP World Tour, including a win last time out in India. This is a natural bye week on the schedule for Matt, sandwiched between signature events with the PGA Championship coming quickly, so the fact that he’s even here means he’s serious about getting this win with Alex.
Stephen Hennessey, Golf Digest managing editor: Michael Brennan/Johnny Keefer (22-1, DraftKings) — Two of the most talented young studs in pro golf are partnering up, so people are betting this team—moving from their opening number to 22-1. I’m still willing to bet on the insane distance advantage they’ll have as both players are in the top 20 on tour this year. Both players have been inconsistent, but I think the vibes will be strong and they can feed off each other to move to the top of the board.
Christopher Powers, Golf Digest senior writer: Michael Thorbjornsen/Karl Vilips (20-1, Caesars Sportsbook) — If not for a brutal double bogey on the par-3 17th a year ago, these two may have won this thing already. Would be stunned if they aren’t at least in the mix again to avenge that run. Thor’s problem this year has been closing on Sundays. This week, he’s got a partner—one who has two top-20 finishes on tour this year—to help alleviate some of that pressure.
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Andy Lack, Inside Sports Network: Matt McCarty/Mac Meissner (27-1, DraftKings) — The Matt McCarty and Mac Meissner team is my pick to win this week as both players have been playing some really solid golf of late. McCarty is coming off back-to-back top-25s at the Masters and Heritage, and Meissner has back-to-back top-30 finishes in his own right.
Past results: We have our SECOND winner of 2026, with Ryan Noonan hitting his first-ever outright as a member of the panel, correctly predicting Nico Echavarria’s win at the Cognizant Classic at 60-1. That makes two 60-1 hits for our panel this year, with Stephen Hennessey nailing Justin Rose’s Farmers win at 60-1, too.
Listen to Golf Digest’s weekly betting podcast, “The Loop,” (below) where we interview the industry’s leading experts (and sometimes tour pros) to help you make your bets and pick your fantasy lineups. And be sure to subscribe to “The Loop” wherever you get your podcasts!
Zurich Classic picks 2026: Sleepers/Dark Horses Who Could Win
Mayo: Jacob Skov Olesen/Rasmus Neergaard-Peterson (45-1, Bet365) — Another pair of Danes took home a silver medal last year in this event. Why can’t another contend as well? Especially the two that grew up playing together.
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Stewart: Chad Ramey/Justin Lower (72-1, DraftKings) — In his last three Zurich starts, Chad Ramey has finished ninth, second, and eighth. Justin Lower has two more top 10s in his last four starts in New Orleans. Neither guy is an elite player on the PGA Tour, but when it comes to this team competition, they get it done. Ramey’s consistent ball striking and Lower’s ability to go low pair perfectly. With the reduced strength of the field, maybe two guys can break through as Griffin and Novak did one year ago.
Noonan: Billy Horschel/Tom Hoge (70-1, DraftKings) — Neither golfer is trending particularly well, but they’re streaky and good course fits for TPC Louisiana. Horschel has had a lot of success here in the past, winning this event as a solo back in 2013 and as a member of a duo with Scott Piercy in 2018.
Hennessey, Golf Digest: Tony Finau/Max Greyserman (45-1, BetMGM) — I love this pairing—they have similar games, and they should have plenty of birdie chances with their off-the-tee advantage. Greyserman is one of the best players to not have won yet on tour, and he’ll have a veteran presence like Finau, who will be hungry for his first victory in over 1,000 days, which will certainly help.
Powers, Golf Digest: Chris Kirk/Patton Kizzire (80-1, Bet365) — Kirk handles all the tee-to-green stuff. Kizzire handles the chipping and putting. Profit.
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Lack: Austin Smotherman/Andrew Putnam (47-1, DraftKings) — I love the potential of this duo, as Austin Smotherman is an excellent ball-striker, and Andrew Putnam’s strengths are around-the-green play and putting. Both players make a ton of birdies, and their contrasting styles should complement each other well.
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Zurich Classic picks 2026: Players We’re Fading
Mayo: Brooks Koepka/Shane Lowry (9-1, BetRivers) — Who putts on this team?
Stewart: Michael Brennan/Johnny Keefer (22-1, DraftKings) — Playing a team format can help inconsistent ball-strikers achieve greater success, but inconsistent putters? Both Johnny Keefer and Michael Brennan lose strokes to the field inside 10 feet with their flatstick. Imagine the alternate shot format where Brennan and Keefer keep struggling with six to eight-foot putts because they only putt under pressure every other hole. Lose that much ground to the field, and it will be very hard to catch up against much better putting teams.
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Noonan: Brooks Koepka/Shane Lowry (9-1, BetRivers) — I’m interested in watching the chemistry and vibes of this team, but I’m not interested in backing them at their current price. I like both players a lot more when the test is difficult, but when we need birdies in bunches, I’m not sure I can see these two climbing to 25 or 30-under.
Hennessey, Golf Digest: Marco Penge/Matt Wallace (22-1, FanDuel) — It’s tough to ignore Penge’s recent approach play here. His length paired with Wallace’s solid ball-striking should be an asset at TPC Louisiana, but the stats are too ugly to be confident at these odds.
Powers, Golf Digest: Andrew Novak/Ben Griffin (+1850, DraftKings) — This has been a surprisingly tough title to defend since going to the team format. Too many good players making too many birdies and way too much volatility in the alternate shot portion of the event. They’ll play well and maybe even contend, but winning again is a huge ask.
Lack: Marco Penge/Matt Wallace (22-1, FanDuel) — I simply think that the Matt Wallace/Marco Penge duo is overvalued. Penge has shown some serious signs of brilliance this year, but he remains extremely raw and inconsistent. This will also be his first appearance at this event, and Wallace hasn’t been great in the Zurich either, missing two of his last three cuts.
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Zurich Classic picks 2026: Matchups
Mayo: Michael Brennan/Johnny Keefer (-110) over Taylor Moore/Wyndham Clark (Coolbet) — Give me the bomb squad of Brennan and Keefer over just about anybody in this field.
Stewart: Matt Fitzpatrick/Alex Fitzpatrick (-110) over Brooks Koepka/Shane Lowry (Bet365) — The Fitzpatrick brothers have three wins in the last five weeks. Two by Matt Fitzpatrick on the PGA Tour, and one by Alex on the DP World Tour. Brooks Koepka and Shane Lowry have both been excellent ball-strikers in 2026, but how about scoring? Both Koepka and Lowry are outside the top 65 in this field for Putting Inside 10 feet. Team formats are all about converting scoring chances. I’ll take two of the hottest players on the planet, who just so happen to be related, against two Florida neighbors.
Hennessey, Golf Digest: Michael Brennan/Johnny Keefer (-120) over Marco Penge/Matt Wallace (Bet365) — Easy one here with my pick to win over my team to fade.
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Powers, Golf Digest: Sudarshan Yellamaraju/Ryan Gerard (-120) over Andrew Novak/Ben Griffin (Bet365) — Two scorching hot golfers vs. the defending champs who I am fading.
Lack: Matt McCarty/Mac Meissner (-130) over Alex Smalley/Hayden Springer (Southpoint) — This is an easy one for me, as McCarty/Meissner are my pick to win, and I have serious questions about the Smalley/Springer duo. Alex Smalley is a solid PGA Tour pro, but Hayden Springer has been primarily playing on the Korn Ferry Tour this year, and his results there are very uninspiring.
Matchup Results from the RBC Heritage: Stewart: 1 for 1 (Harman (-125) over Poston); Noonan: 1 for 1 (McNealy (-105) over MacIntyre); Mayo: PUSH (Straka (-110) over Lowry); Powers: 0 for 1; Lack: 0 for 1; Hennessey: 0 for 1
Matchup Results from the 2026 season (Wins-Losses-Pushes): Stewart: 9-2-2 (up 5.97 units); Powers: 10-4-0 (up 4.91 units); Noonan: 8-5-1 (up 1.75 units); Lack: 7-6-1 (down 0.24 units); Mayo: 6-7-1 (down 0.69 units); Hennessey: 6-8-0 (down 2.6 units)
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Zurich Classic picks 2026: Top 10s
Mayo: Michael Brennan/Johnny Keefer (+255, DraftKings) — Two of the most fun young guys on tour playing together vs. 90 percent of a Korn Ferry field? Can’t stay away.
Stewart: Taylor Moore/Wyndham Clark (+230, Bet365) — The Zurich always pulls together a couple of classic pairings. Taylor Moore and Wyndham Clark have both had roller coaster seasons. When it comes to battling in the bayou, each has proven they can contend. In nine combined starts between the two of them, they have four top-10 finishes. Two each. I’m going with experience at TPC New Orleans for this top-10 ticket.
Noonan: Michael Thorbjornsen/Karl Vilips (+185, FanDuel) — The Stanford Cardinal duo finished T-4 here last season, and both players finished T-33 at Harbour Town last week with encouraging tee-to-green performances. Their ability to take advantage of the par 5s here is essential for success, and this duo can make birdies in bunches.
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Hennessey, Golf Digest: Tony Finau/Max Greyserman (+380, FanDuel) — Backing up my sleeper pick with a top-10 bet here. Finau and Greyserman have too much talent to not hang around on the weekend and make a move up the board.
Powers, Golf Digest: Kristoffer Ventura/Kristoffer Reitan (+300, Caesars Sportsbook) — Same name, same country? Say less. But, actually, I’ve been a Kristoffer Ventura truther for years now, though that has not been a fun time in 2026 (he’s missed six out of seven cuts). He does have boom or bust potential, and being paired with a fellow countryman in Reitan, who has been far more dependable this year, might allow him to finally realize that potential this week. Both these guys are excellent off the tee, hopefully they can ham and egg it in the other departments and sneak in the top 10.
Lack: Wyndham Clark/Taylor Moore (+180, DraftKings) — This American duo has a serious chance to contend this week in Louisiana, and I have been particularly impressed by Wyndham Clark’s play of late. Clark has strung together back-to-back top-25s at the Masters and Heritage, and he is finally starting to regain form off the tee.
Top-10 results from the RBC Heritage: Powers: 1 for 1 (Patrick Cantlay +225); Lack: 1 for 1 (Matt Fitzpatrick +165); Hennessey: 1 for 1 (Matt Fitzpatrick +165); Everybody else: 0 for 1
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Top-10 results from the 2026 season: Mayo: 5 for 14 (up 12.15 units); Noonan: 4 for 14 (up 3.3 units); Stewart: 4 for 14 (up 1.85 units); Lack: 3 for 14 (down 1.65 units); Powers: 3 for 14 (down 2.25 units); Hennessey: 2 for 14 (down 5.65 units)
About our experts
Pat Mayo is an award-winning video host and producer of long and short-form content, and the host of The Pat Mayo Experience daily talk show. Mayo helped create the golf stats and research website Fantasy National along with the Race for the Mayo Cup One and Done contest. Mayo won the 2022 Fantasy Sports Writing Association Daily Fantasy Writer of the Year and is a finalist for three FSWA Awards in 2023 (Best Podcast, Daily Fantasy Writer of the Year, Golf Writer of the Year). His 27 FSWA nominations lead all writers this decade and are second-most all-time. Follow him on Twitter: @ThePME.
Keith Stewart is a five-time award-winning PGA professional, a betting contributor and content partner with Golf Digest. Stewart is a co-founder of Read The Line, the premier on-site live golf betting insights service covering the PGA Tour, LPGA and TGL. Subscribe to Read The Line’s weekly newsletter for the industry’s best betting narratives. Follow him on Twitter @readtheline_.
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Ryan Noonan is the Betting Content Manager for 4for4 and Betsperts Golf, writing articles and hosting multiple shows under the Betsperts Group umbrella, including Move The Line and our Betsperts Golf Betting Show. Find him on Twitter: @RyNoonan.
Andy Lack is a PGA Tour writer and podcaster from New York City who now resides in Los Angeles. Andy is the founder and CEO of Inside Sports Network, a website devoted to the predictive quality of advanced analytics and golf course architecture. He came to Golf Digest’s betting panel after previously writing for Run Pure Sports, RickRunGood.com, the Score and GolfWRX. In his free time, Andy can likely be found on a golf course. Follow him on Twitter: @adplacksports.
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