After his partner put his approach shot in the water on the 16th, Rory McIlroy calmly knocked a wedge to about 20 feet and rolled in the curling birdie putt, celebrating with a fist pump. “Rory McIlroy had shown up,” according to partner Shane Lowry, as McIlroy made birdies on his own ball on Nos. 9, 10, 11, 13, 16 and 18. The Irish duo are firmly in the mix through 54 holes at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. McIlroy – who is making his debut at this event this week – and Lowry shot an 8-under 64 Saturday at TPC Louisiana. They’re just two shots back of the lead held by Zac Blair and Patrick Fishburn at 23-under heading into Sunday’s finale, with Luke List and Henrik Norlander (who finished tied for 23rd together last year) in second at 22-under. McIlroy and Lowry are tied with Ryan Brehm and Mark Hubbard for third. There are a few TOUR winners hovering around the top of the board (including last year’s runners-up Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin among the four teams a shot back of McIlroy and Lowry at 20 under) but the major-winning pedigree held by McIlroy and Lowry, clad again in matching outfits Saturday – blue polos and khakis for the third round – should help give them a bit of a spring in their step for Sunday. “I think today was about staying patient knowing that the course was going to present some opportunities, especially on that back nine, and I think our patience was rewarded with the chances that we gave ourselves and rolled a couple of putts in on the back and kept ourselves in it,” McIlroy said. McIlroy and Lowry – friends for about 25 years – started slowly, going out in 3-under, but made three birdies in the first four holes after making the turn and shot 5 under on the back nine. They were only 1-under through six holes and saw Fishburn and Blair put a bow on their 12-under 60 effort – just one shot off the Four-ball scoring record. “We absolutely finished strong," McIlroy said. "It was a tricky day. The wind was blowing. We had some chances early on that we didn't take advantage of. We birdied the two par 5s on the front nine and then we definitely got it going around the turn. I hit a lovely shot into (hole) 9 and was able to convert that, and I think that gave us some really good momentum going into the back nine." Making a birdie at the ninth, McIlroy continued, was a “game changer.” “I think that 6-iron he hit into (hole) 9 and he rolled the putt got us going, and from there on in, it was Rory McIlroy at his best, and it was a joy to watch,” Lowry added. “I knew we had a lot of holes to play, but certainly when we were 1-under through 6 and a long way down the leaderboard, I knew we needed to get something going.” No matter where a duo ended up on the leaderboard, the winds at TPC Louisiana were a scoring speedbump on Saturday. The teams all had to navigate the blustery blows. “It’s a pretty similar direction as the rest of the week but just a lot stronger,” said Hubbard, after his team shot an 8-under 64. "There's just some holes out here that even if you know it's blowing one direction, like (Nos.) 9 and 18, they should play a little down off the right and for some reason they always seem to have a little hurt on those approach shots – and they're tough shots into those greens. To have to trust a certain club or certain line that you might not be comfortable with, that's tough.” The wind is set to be a factor again on Sunday, where the final round will once again be alternate shot. That’s a format where anything can happen, but McIlroy said to be just two back of the lead is a solid position to be in. He and Lowry are eager to make a final-round move and return to the winner’s circle on the PGA TOUR.

After his partner put his approach shot in the water on the 16th, Rory McIlroy calmly knocked a wedge to about 20 feet and rolled in the curling birdie putt, celebrating with a fist pump.

Zurich Classic set for dramatic finish with Rory McIlroy/Shane Lowry two back in team debut

The Zurich Classic of New Orleans, the PGA TOUR's only two-man team event, uses an alternating-round Four-ball and Foursomes format. The first and third rounds are played as Four-ball (best ball), and the second and final rounds are played as Foursomes (alternate shot). The team of Zac Blair and Patrick Fishburn lead by one after three rounds at TPC Louisiana heading into the final day of competition. Sunday's round will be under alternate-shot Foursomes format, with Luke List and Henrik Norlander just one back of the leaders. Each player on the winning team will receive 400 FedExCup points, with each player on the runner-up team receiving 162.5 points. After the second round, the top 33 teams and ties will make the cut; all teams that make the cut will receive FedExCup points. Here's a look at the projected Aon Swing 5, Aon Next 10 and FedExCup standings after the second round of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

The Zurich Classic of New Orleans, the PGA TOUR's only two-man team event, uses an alternating-round Four-ball and Foursomes format. The first and third rounds are played as Four-ball (best ball), and the second and final rounds are played as Foursomes (alternate shot).

Projected Aon Swing 5, Next 10 standings after Round 3 of Zurich Classic

AVONDALE, Louis. (AP) — Former BYU teammates Patrick Fishburn and Zac Blair shot a 12-under 60 in Saturday Four-ball to take the third-round lead in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, the PGA TOUR’s only team event. At 23-under 193, Fishburn and Blair had a one-stroke lead over Luke List and Henrik Norlander, with the Irish duo of Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry — tied for the lead after each of the first two rounds — two strokes back. Fishburn and Blair, both seeking their first win on the PGA TOUR have been playing golf together since their junior high school days in Ogden, Utah. “It’s kind of why you’re out here playing is to have opportunities like this,” Blair said. “I’ve been out here a handful of years now, so I know that they don’t come that often, and so we’ll do our best to go take advantage of it.” Fishburn had three birdies and an eagle on the first five holes at wind-swept TPC Louisiana, where the wind gusted to 25 mph. Windy conditions are also expected for Sunday for the Foursomes finale. List and Norlander had a 62. List eagled the second and No. 11. “We just got in a really good rhythm early,” Norlander said. “I felt like we were both hitting fairways. Not necessarily hitting it really close, but it felt like early we had two chances on every hole.” McIlroy and Lowry shook off a slow start to birdie seven of their last 12 holes. They shot 64 to join Ryan Brehm and Mark Hubbard, who also had a 64, at 21 under. Canadians Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin topped the group at 20-under. “Look, it was a tough day,” McIlroy said. “Birdies were a little harder to come by today than they were on Thursday in the better-ball format. I think today was about staying patient knowing that the course was going to present some opportunities, especially on that back nine.” Fishburn and Blair were a stroke off the tournament record. “Just kind of rode (Fishburn) all day,” Blair said. “He played good. I mean, it was pretty textbook out there for him.” They made the turn in 7-under 29 and birdied five of the first six holes on the back nine before finishing with three pars.

AVONDALE, Louis. (AP) — Former BYU teammates Patrick Fishburn and Zac Blair shot a 12-under 60 in Saturday Four-ball to take the third-round lead in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, the PGA TOUR’s only team event.

Former BYU teammates Patrick Fishburn, Zac Blair lead Zurich Classic of New Orleans

&nbsp; Check out the latest Over/Under: Birdie Round 4 offerings only here at International Golf Exchange. Join and bet now @ <a href="http://www.igx360.com/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR1vvLuTtO7DzlfVPGyBzNmilXJAhLS2uRxXgQMYDAlL2vThqXo3w_k6dhs_aem_AVeiXuzuqk7JhOPHdtbGOccE3JPvIXz0Eh33Uwaiq3vluvWmM9VEw0OA9ECoQDwLet5tWrXFDkIEigBKC8CPFg12" target="_blank">www.igx360.com</a>

Euro Tour ISPS Handa Championship Round 4

&nbsp; Check out the latest Player Head to Head Round 4 offerings only here at International Golf Exchange. Join and bet now @ <a href="http://www.igx360.com/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR0CbqIQ2jIMAA9sebswoRo0h63Ty0eqRTDAcYpjFmRjRO2sxcfpDoTRoeQ_aem_AVe92C7jJqhxATTGyfjRPA1v30BRhMyQ3_oo1jwUZ4YnCd-RlOBAEPL5Uax3TO6akDcP86YDwi5N-Dw8fqQtTacn" target="_blank">www.igx360.com</a>

PGA tour Zurich Classic of New Orleans Round 4

&nbsp; Check out the latest Player Head to Head Round 4 offerings only here at International Golf Exchange. Join and bet now @ <a href="http://www.igx360.com/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR2z7cQIN_4FSeSSvqH-V2obLiChV7EVLSdkWuz4jJKxJQCWfJBWuKzp5EQ_aem_AeGkb0dwLtMLTUCmbypYjZ_WNEYwrshxjnnYGCnnZ_fs0SqDIauMMDPPb5mhLVyLaCpx6t4nJAHAvwIAYkh2nb7l" target="_blank">www.igx360.com</a>

Challenge Tour UAE Challenge Round 4

&nbsp; Check out the latest Player Head to Head Round 3 offerings only here at International Golf Exchange. Join and bet now @ <a href="http://www.igx360.com/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR0fK-RsEaGF2bh9cmXCGkJzhEpRwn8XnYs6J16n6Yv6swDfHulzK9LfieM_aem_AVen0wSb0q8ASVvKM-hg_irdgOa5azRJIOuNAWWbkM-DcobECmw5S0mKuO5skYtG5B4RqwQfNi89FBqhU5ydzwhT" target="_blank">www.igx360.com</a>

LIV Golf  LIV Adelaide Round 3

The PGA TOUR returns to Texas after three weeks in the Southeast. TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas, just north of the Dallas-Fort Worth area, will be hosting for the fourth consecutive season after moving THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson there in 2021. K.H. Lee won the first two editions of the tournament at TPC Craig Ranch only for Jason Day to spoil his attempt at a three-peat in 2023. Jason Day also won the event in 2010 when it was contested at Las Colinas Four Seasons, the same year Jordan Spieth made his PGA TOUR debut at THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson at just 16 years old. TPC Craig Ranch is a par 71 and plays to 7,414 yards. The PGA TOUR uses a standardized system for determining event fields based on the current season’s Priority Ranking while also including additional exemption and qualifying categories. Field sizes can vary by event, as can the number of event-specific exemptions. Fully exempt PGA TOUR members are guaranteed entry into all full-field events, with various conditional categories subject to periodic reshuffles based upon FedExCup Points accrued throughout the season. Categories with "reshuffle" notation indicate that a reshuffle period has occurred. Scroll below to see the field list and updates. Winner of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard, the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday or The Genesis Invitational (three-year exemption)Adam Scott PGA TOUR tournament winner (two-year exemption)Daniel BergerRyan BrehmCameron ChampStewart CinkJason DayNick DunlapNico EchavarriaBrice GarnettNick HardyTom HogeMackenzie HughesSungjae ImStephan JaegerSi Woo KimTom KimKevin KisnerJake KnappK.H. LeeLuke ListVincent NorrmanSeamus PowerChad RameyChez ReavieDavis RileyJ.J. SpaunJordan SpiethCamilo VillegasMatt WallaceWill Zalatoris Career money exemptionCharley HoffmanZach Johnson Sponsor exemption (members not otherwise exempt)Ryan PalmerJimmy Walker Sponsor exemption (unrestricted)Cody GribbleKris KimKelly KraftTaiga Semikawa PGA Section Champion/Player of the YearJarred Jeter Past championSung Kang Byron Nelson Collegiate Golf Award WinnerDavid Nyfjall Top 30 in FedExCup Points ListAdam Schenk Top 70 in prior year's FedExCup Points List through the FedExCup PlayoffsByeong Hun AnPatrick RodgersTaylor MontgomeryAlex SmalleyThomas DetryBrandon WuBeau HosslerHayden BuckleySam RyderBen GriffinKeith MitchellSamuel StevensMatt KucharMark HubbardAaron RaiMatthew NeSmith Top 125 in prior season's FedExCup Points List through the FedExCup FallAlex NorenS.H. KimJustin SuhDavis ThompsonJoel DahmenMichael KimBen TaylorGarrick HiggoRobby SheltonTaylor PendrithCallum TarrenDylan WuHarry HallNate LashleyGreyson SiggDavid LipskyJustin LowerCarson YoungTyson AlexanderKevin StreelmanChesson HadleyChristiaan BezuidenhoutZac BlairAaron BaddeleyJoseph BramlettKevin YuMartin LairdBen MartinRyan MooreMatti SchmidAndrew NovakDoug GhimTroy MerrittCarl Yuan Top 125 (Prior season non-member)Min Woo Lee # Major Medical ExtensionMaverick McNealyC.T. PanLanto GriffinBrandt SnedekerJhonattan VegasBud CauleyVince Whaley Leading Points Winner from Korn Ferry TourBen Kohles Top 10 and ties from previous eventWesley BryanKevin TwayChan KimParker CoodyPeter Kuest Players 2-30 from prior year's Korn Ferry Tour Points List, Top 10 from prior year's DP World Tour and Top five and ties from PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn FerrySami ValimakiChandler PhillipsErik BarnesJimmy StangerDavid SkinnsAlejandro TostiBen SilvermanRyo HisatsuneMax GreysermanJoe HighsmithRobert MacIntyreHayden SpringerMcClure MeissnerAlexander BjörkJacob BridgemanRafael CamposTom WhitneyRichard HoeyBronson BurgoonAdrien Dumont de ChassartJorge CampilloThorbjørn OlesenNorman XiongKevin DoughertyChris GotterupTrace CroweRyan FoxWilliam FurrHarrison EndycottRoger SloanPierceson CoodyRyan McCormickPaul BarjonRaul PeredaPatrick FishburnJosh TeaterScott GutschewskiNicholas LindheimBlaine Hale, Jr. Reorder Category - Cat. 37 thru 44.Henrik NorlanderPatton KizzireMartin TrainerAustin CookKevin Chappell

The PGA TOUR returns to Texas after three weeks in the Southeast. TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas, just north of the Dallas-Fort Worth area, will be hosting for the fourth consecutive season after moving THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson there in 2021. K.H. Lee won the first two editions of the tournament at TPC Craig Ranch only for Jason Day to spoil his attempt at a three-peat in 2023. Jason Day also won the event in 2010 when it was contested at Las Colinas Four Seasons, the same year Jordan Spieth made his PGA TOUR debut at THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson at just 16 years old. TPC Craig Ranch is a par 71 and plays to 7,414 yards.

Inside the Field: THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson

If it’s the Zurich Classic of New Orleans then, eventually, Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele are going to be part of the conversation. The duo seems to always make an inevitable move at TPC Louisiana, and this year it happened on Friday. Schauffele and Cantlay, the lone pair in the field both ranked inside the top 10 in the Official World Golf Ranking entering the week, fired a 5-under 67 in the second round – the low round of the day in Foursomes. The duo was 6-under on their round through 17 holes before finishing with a bogey on their final hole of the day. They are just one shot back of the lead held by a quartet of squads including Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry. “We did exactly what we needed to put ourselves in position,” said Cantlay. “We’re at halftime now, one back, and I like our spot heading into the weekend.” The pair, who won this event in 2022 and have been a staple of Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup teams over the last few years, have been a force at the Zurich Classic. They finished tied for fourth in their debut as a pair before winning in 2022. Last year they finished tied for 11th. Cantlay and Schauffele co-hold the Foursomes scoring record at this event (63 last year)&nbsp;and&nbsp;the Four-Ball record (59 in 2022). Whatever they’re doing just keeps working. “We prepare individually, in terms of the way we play,” Schauffele said. “We do some team reads and things like that on the putting green, but for the most part, most of the time we know exactly where we need to leave ourselves even if we’re out of position so that always helps.” Both Schauffele and Cantlay are looking for their first TOUR title since 2022. Schauffele won three times that year, while Cantlay won twice. It’s been an incredibly steady 2024 campaign for Schauffele so far with seven top-10s in 10 starts, including a tie for second at THE PLAYERS. Cantlay hasn’t had the same run of results as his partner so far in 2024, but he comes to TPC Louisiana after a tie for third at the RBC Heritage last week. The leaderboard is as bunched as ever heading into the weekend, with four duos tied for the lead at 13-under and Cantlay and Schauffele part of a six-way tie for fifth just a shot back. The teams will once again play Four-ball for Saturday’s third round, and it should come as no surprise that Cantlay and Schauffele are eager for a solid moving day given how they’ve played through 36 holes at the Zurich Classic.

If it’s the Zurich Classic of New Orleans then, eventually, Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele are going to be part of the conversation.

'We do what we always do’: Xander Schauffele, Patrick Cantlay make inevitable move at Zurich Classic

At the halfway point of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, we have a four-way tie for first place with only five shots separating the teams at the top of the leaderboard from the teams at the bottom. The marquee team and one of the shorter-priced pre-tournament favorites (+800) of Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy are one of those teams tied for the lead at 13-under after firing a 2-under round of 70 in Friday's Foursomes format. Joining the two Irishmen are the duos Davis Thompson and Andrew Novak, Aaron Rai and David Lipsky and Ryan Brehm and Mark Hubbard - all at 13-under after two rounds. Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele, who won this event two years ago, shot the low round of the day on Friday - a 67. It was 10 shots better than the worst rounds of the day, as four different teams shot 77 at TPC Louisiana in the more difficult format. Schauffele and Cantlay are one shot off the lead and are linked to another five teams, all at 12-under par, including a pair of Canadian duos, Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin and Corey Conners and Taylor Pendrith. Exactly half of the original field made the cut, with 40 teams set to decide this championship over the next two rounds. Rounds 2 and 4 always go a long way in determining a winner at the Zurich Classic it seems. Foursomes (Alternate Shot) is a far more challenging format for team play than is Best Ball, which is featured in the opening round and in Round 3, scheduled for Saturday. Updated odds to win Zurich Classic (via BetMGM Sportsbook) <ul><li>+275: Rory McIlroy/Shane Lowry</li>,<li>+350: Patrick Cantlay/Xander Schauffele</li>,<li>+1000: Davis Thompson/Andrew Novak</li>,<li>+1100: Nick Taylor/Adam Hadwin</li>,<li>+1200: Corey Conners/Taylor Pendrith</li>,<li>+1400: Aaron Rai/David Lipsky</li>,<li>+1600: Ryan Brehm/Mark Hubbard</li></ul> Foursomes (alternate shot) is really the crux of the pre-tournament handicap, as it truly combines the two players into one unit. One bad shot by either player can ruin a hole. In Four-balls, Player A might be able to bail out Player B by making birdie while Player B may have dumped their ball into the water - or something else that leads to a poor score. Only Player A's birdie shows up on the scorecard as the team's score for that hole. Multiple rounds of 61 were shot on Thursday's opening round in the Four-balls format. Out of 80 teams, every recorded round was under par on Thursday, further illustrating the difference in difficulty between the two formats. So, we head to the weekend with one more day of each of the two formats to be completed. Again, Saturday's round will be back to Four-ball and then back to Foursomes on Sunday. There are nine different teams at 8-under through two rounds, making up the bottom end of the leaderboard, including the defending champs (Davis Riley and Nick Hardy) along with one of the shorter-priced pre-tournament pairings (Collin Morikawa and Kurt Kitayama). And I don't really believe anyone is out of this thing just yet. In 2023, Riley and Hardy shot 65 on Sunday in the Foursomes arrangement to win. Taylor and Hadwin fired a 63 to finish second. The average winning score over the prior six editions of this team format at the Zurich Classic is better than 25-under par. A 62 on Saturday, followed by a 65 on Sunday, gets anyone of these teams at 8-under to 25-under for the tournament. While the outcome still may be wide-open, who is it that we want to back and who is it that we want to go against going into the weekend in The Big Easy? <h3>Draws</h3> There really are probably half a dozen teams that I have my eye on as solid candidates to go on and win. I believe Thompson/Novak is a very competitive team at +1000. Pre-tournament, I played Echavarria/Greyserman, and I feel they are still live, two shots back and listed at +5000. But I am going to go all in on the Canadian entry. Taylor/Hadwin (+1100) I also played last year’s runners-up pre-tournament and I like where they stand currently. A lot has been made about prepping for the Presidents Cup, and so far, Hadwin and Taylor seem dialed in to that storyline. From the get-go, I liked this team's chemistry. The two have known one another since childhood and were even roommates some time ago. I like their complimentary skill sets - Taylor being the ball-striker and Hadwin being the owner of a great short game. It doesn't hurt that Taylor, as a bonus, also happens to rank 20th in this field for SG: Putting (Bermudagrass) over the last 36 rounds. Finally, I really like each player's current form. Taylor was 12th at Bay Hill last month and won in Phoenix back in February. Hadwin already has three top-6 finishes this season. Coming that close to winning here last year, I believe this team has a good feel for this event, these formats, and how to execute a winning plan down the stretch. Conners/Pendrith (+1200) Pendrith began his 2024 season on a roll with top-10 finishes at the Sony Open and the Farmers Insurance Open. He then hit the skids, missing the cut in five of his next six starts. But he found his stride again last week, finishing 11th at the Corales Puntacana Championship. His playing partner, Corey Conners, is yet to miss a cut this season. This is another tandem in which I like the complementary skill sets. Pendrith is a bomber off the tee. Conners is one of the finest ball-strikers in the sport - and to top it off, Pendrith can roll the rock, ranking 22nd on TOUR in SG: Putting - which also helps explain his ranking sixth in this field over the last 36 rounds for Birdies or Better Gained. Both of these Canadian batteries have especially strong combinations of skills that really bolster them as powerful units. I'm sure Presidents Cup Captain Mike Weir is smiling. <h3>Fade</h3> Brehm/Hubbard (+1600)

At the halfway point of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, we have a four-way tie for first place with only five shots separating the teams at the top of the leaderboard from the teams at the bottom.

Backing the Canadian contingent at the halfway point of the Zurich Classic

&nbsp; Check out the latest Player Head to Head Round 3 offerings only here at International Golf Exchange. Join and bet now @ <a href="http://www.igx360.com/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR1SWIG-e7Q4JgA5JCKim7RyQC6vsThQ0Zx2UYJyujD051ljTjoNzwiGnwY_aem_AVdAm_I7yR5fJogJ9Wm_GoNrKAB1jZTPUOFIg0XPP6eEsfsWhcqoC_AqNPPv_2U39VLkqHSJmqL6Se4z7wM09pUd" target="_blank">www.igx360.com</a>

LPGA Tour JM Eagle LA Championship Round 3

It was already a feel-good week for the team of Eric Cole and Russ Cochran. It got even better on Thursday afternoon. Cole made an ace on the 207-yard par-3 14th during the first round of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. It’s Cole’s first career ace on the PGA TOUR. Cole’s approach landed just short of the green before popping up, slowly meandering to the front-left hole location and falling into the cup. The hole-in-one moved team Cole/Cochran to 3-under through five holes. The 35-year-old Cole hoped to spend the week celebrating 65-year-old Cochran, whom Cole invited to play so Cochran could hit his 600th career start. Cochran had been stuck on 599 career PGA TOUR starts for over a decade. His last PGA TOUR event was the 2013 Sony Open in Hawaii (T41). Cole’s caddie is Reed Cochran, Russ’s son, and Cole plays with both father and son back in Tequesta, Florida, a suburb of Jupiter. Cole floated the idea to Russ, who was apprehensive at first. Eventually, Cole wore him down. “I thought it would be pretty cool to get him his 600th,” said Cole. “Russ was kinda shaky about it, and then I stayed on him pretty hard and he eventually he came around. He’s been getting ready for it.” Reed stayed on Cole’s bag while Russ’s other son, Ryan, is caddying for his dad. “It’s a cool family week, and in New Orleans it will be a cool celebration of Russ,” Cole said.

It was already a feel-good week for the team of Eric Cole and Russ Cochran. It got even better on Thursday afternoon.

Eric Cole makes first career ace at Zurich Classic

Late Thursday afternoon in New Orleans, Rory McIlroy rested his head on Shane Lowry’s shoulder. It wasn’t the typical post-round moment, but this isn’t the typical event. McIlroy and Lowry teamed up for this week’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans, the PGA TOUR’s lone team event, and the all-Irish duo put on a show. Sporting matching pink-on-navy getups, McIlroy/Lowry opened in a best-ball 11-under 61 in Thursday’s Four-ball format at TPC Louisiana. This partnership might have stemmed from a boozy brunch last fall, but their opening-round performance at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans gave the field a sobering reminder: They’ll be tough to top. “You know that you sort of need to get off to a good start, and thankfully we did,” said McIlroy, who is making his tournament debut. “I don't know if I knew what to expect. I've watched this tournament a little bit over the years on TV, heard some good things from some of the players. It's nice to come here, team up with a really good friend, and if we play a good round tomorrow, it'll be awesome to be in contention for the weekend and try to get a win on the PGA TOUR with a friend beside me.” “I definitely felt today I was less hard on myself than I've been in the last few weeks when I hit a couple of bad shots,” Lowry added. “It's nice to know you've got Rory McIlroy backing you up. But yeah, I definitely feel like there's a nice vibe out there with the two of us. We know each other's games so well. We've played a lot of golf. We play a lot of golf at home together, and we just know each other so well.” McIlroy/Lowry ended Thursday in a share of the lead with Ryan Brehm/Mark Hubbard, Ben Kohles/Patton Kizzire and Aaron Rai/David Lipsky, headed into Friday’s Foursomes (alternate shot) format. Saturday will return to Four-ball, with Sunday’s final round featuring Foursomes. McIlroy had never appeared in this event (Lowry had made four prior appearances), but the all-Irish duo didn’t show much of a learning curve. The duo started fast with four consecutive birdies, then added two more on Nos. 7 and 8 to turn in 6-under 30. Birdies on 10, 12, 13 and 14 were complemented by a closing birdie, and there were no bogeys on the card. Not only were their games on point, their outfits were too on a Thursday that even featured an unofficial gator delay at the par-3 17th. After closing with a comfortable 4 on the par-5 18th (both players had eagle attempts and safely two-putted), McIlroy and Lowry shared a smile and hug. “First time seeing the golf course; Rory looked like he was a veteran,” remarked a Golf Channel commentator. McIlroy might be the more accomplished global player, but he looks up to Lowry in many ways, often praising his European Ryder Cup teammate’s worldview and perspective. “He enjoys his life and everything he's worked for,” McIlroy told the Irish Independent last fall, “and I think spending time with him makes me a better version of myself.” Especially when that time includes an early co-lead in New Orleans. The late/early wave means a quick turnaround into Friday’s second round – therefore not much off-course rowdiness (for now). “I’m staying out of trouble,” Lowry said Thursday. “We’re going for a nice meal tomorrow night.”

Late Thursday afternoon in New Orleans, Rory McIlroy rested his head on Shane Lowry’s shoulder.

Team of Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry shine in first round of Zurich Classic with 61

The teams at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans have had their fun in the opening round Four-ball but the real separation is to come as they gear up for the Foursomes, or alternate shot format in the second round. As expected, the field tore up TPC Louisiana with&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.pgatour.com/article/news/latest/2024/04/25/rory-mcilroy-shane-lowry-zurich-classic-new-orleans-round-1-thursday-four-ball-tpc-louisiana">Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry headlining those going deep.</a> The European Ryder Cup teammates dropped an 11-under 61 to be part of the lead, joined by the team of Ryan Brehm and Mark Hubbard, the duo of Ben Kohles and Patton Kizzire plus Aaron Rai and David Lipsky. Just a shot behind are the teams of Davis Thompson and Andrew Novak, Thomas Detry and Robert MacIntyre, Cameron Champ and MJ Daffue. There are 13 teams in at 9-under and a further eight at 8-under. In fact, 43 teams are 7-under or better in a packed leaderboard. But the volatility of alternate shot golf could see some teams shoot up the boards, and also back down, as bad shots count and there is nowhere to hide. While all 80 teams shot under par on Thursday, this will not be the case on Friday. With the change in format comes risk-reward options on the betting boards. It’s not a good time to be taking favorites, so if you didn’t jump on McIlroy/Lowry pre-tournament, the +225 on offer now is not smart. The conservative mode would be to watch Friday before jumping in, getting a read on team chemistry in both formats, but if you can correctly predict who might make a move in the tougher format, you could get juicy odds. Here are the latest odds from BetMGM Sportsbook. <ul><li>+225: Rory McIlroy / Shane Lowry (-11, T1)</li>,<li>+1000: Xander Schauffele / Patrick Cantlay (-7, T28)</li>,<li>+1400: Thomas Detry / Robert MacIntyre (-10, T5)</li>,<li>+1400: Aaron Rai / David Lipsky (-11, T1)</li>,<li>+1400: Nick Taylor / Adam Hadwin (-9, T8)</li>,<li>+1800: Andrew Novak / Davis Thompson (-10, T5)</li>,<li>+1800: Will Zalatoris / Sahith Theegala (-7, T28)</li>,<li>+2000: Corey Conners / Taylor Pendrith (-9, T8)</li>,<li>+2200: Joel Dahmen / Keith Mitchell (-9, T8)</li></ul> <h3>Draws</h3> Corey Conners/Taylor Pendrith +2000 Never underestimate the carrot of the Presidents Cup for the Canadians. With the biennial contest against the U.S. Team coming up in Montreal later this year, the Canadian crew is certainly looking to prove to Mike Weir they are not only winners, but compatible as teammates in these formats. With Conners' insane iron play and Pendrith’s bombs off the tee, this crew could make a move. They were both in the Presidents Cup in 2022 but only teamed together for one Four-ball session, losing to Max Homa and Billy Horschel in a tight 1-up contest. Nick Taylor/Adam Hadwin +1400 I gave the top draw slot to their countrymen because of the better odds on offer, but these two have just as much to prove as they chase the Presidents Cup. Hadwin was part of the International Team in 2019 before missing out in 2022, leaving him hungrier than ever. Taylor has proven himself a TOUR winner twice over in the last 10 months, and while his form has dipped the last few weeks his pure desire should bring out his best. Andrew Novak/Davis Thompson +1800 My Golfbet colleague Matt DelVecchio will think this draw is an attempt to cool his pre-tournament pick, but the fact is he might have jagged a great team. Novak was punching above his weight in the early part of the season and ranks 14th in Strokes Gained: Approach and 28th&nbsp;in SG: Total, while Thompson ranks a very respectable 50th on TOUR in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green and also gains strokes on the greens. If they can keep the mojo going, they’re in great shape. <h3>Fade</h3> Rory McIlroy/Shane Lowry +225

The teams at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans have had their fun in the opening round Four-ball but the real separation is to come as they gear up for the Foursomes, or alternate shot format in the second round.

Draws and Fades: Look for sleepers in New Orleans as alternate shot the separator

&nbsp; Check out the latest Player Head to Head Round 2 offerings only here at International Golf Exchange. Join and bet now @ <a href="http://www.igx360.com/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR1huXM7u5PRSsn72HGSIGtykcv83jLZtcY_CgchaP05EAwEAe2gAqnEICw_aem_AeGM5I9rbRvjx7Rx8DENnN9r9-GzNnmjWL_yKQMT_KxZhGuBhf9stEZ0ZOqxkRVi9yZUs5tfKRZLYSSSTb3AuPqo" target="_blank">www.igx360.com</a>

Korn Ferry Tour Veritex Bank Championship Round 2

Billy Horschel waited nearly two years to earn his eighth PGA TOUR victory, which he did Sunday at the Corales Puntacana Championship. While many things had changed for Horschel since his previous victory, at the 2022 Memorial Tournament presented by Workday, the putter he used in both wins remained the same. That doesn’t mean the putter was in his bag for the entirety of that duration, however. Horschel switched putters in 2023, only to return to his trusty Ping Sigma2 Tyne 4 ahead of this year’s PLAYERS Championship in March. "We switched back to a Ping putter that I used for three, four years at THE PLAYERS Championship," Horschel said. "It's been heating up. It was on the sidelines for a little while. It had to get warmed back up again." Since making the swap at THE PLAYERS Championship, Horschel has had positive Strokes Gained: Putting in two of the three weeks he played (Valspar Championship, Texas Children's Houston Open), then went on to win by two at Corales Puntacana after shooting a final-round 63 (SG: Putting stats are not available at the tournament). "I've been seeing signs of having unbelievable putting weeks -- not just rounds, weeks," Horschel continued. "And this is one of those weeks where I just had a great putting week. I felt like I was really comfortable on the greens, I read them well, I had the speed very down where I didn't have to think about how hard to hit them, I could just get in there and focus on my line and hit the putt." Puntacana Resort &amp; Club's Corales Golf Course provided ample opportunities for players to score and Horschel took advantage early and often, especially in the final round on Sunday. Horschel's 9-under 63 on Sunday set the tournament's final-round scoring record and his 23-under tournament total surpassed the tournament record. Horschel said he returned to his mallet because he was missing too many putts from inside 10-15 feet with the blade-style putter he used in 2023 and at the start of this year. “You get a little more forgiveness with the mallet putter,” Horschel said. “I just felt like it was time to probably make a switch back and hopefully be a little more consistent.” Returning to an old putter also helped Horschel get into his desired set-up position. He likes to set up with the putter shaft more vertical and the heel of the putter coming off the ground. Horschel ranked 21st in SG: Putting in 2022 en route to one of the best seasons of his career. The former FedExCup champ not only qualified for another TOUR Championship but also represented the U.S. for the first time as a pro, playing for the victorious U.S. Team at the Presidents Cup. "I think just switching back to a putter you've had success with, you know, you've made putts with it," Horschel said recently. "You know how it feels. You know how it looks."

Billy Horschel waited nearly two years to earn his eighth PGA TOUR victory, which he did Sunday at the Corales Puntacana Championship.

Billy Horschel reaps putter change reward with win at Corales Puntacana Championship

Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry have been close since they were kids, representing Ireland at the 2007 European Amateur Team Championships. They played for Europe as it reclaimed the Ryder Cup in Rome last fall, and when McIlroy was on the verge of becoming a “car park scrapper” at Marco Simone, as one scribe put it, Lowry was there to hold him back. You would be hard-pressed to find two closer teammates at this week’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans, and keep in mind this is a field that features two sets of twins. “We’ve got quite a bit of shared history,” McIlroy told PGATOUR.COM on Wednesday. Lowry was sitting next to him as they spoke about their partnership for a tournament that NOLA first-timer McIlroy, in his 17th year as a pro, anticipated would be a welcome addition to his schedule. They cracked up laughing at the mention of their only other match as a duo, a 4-and-3 loss to Tony Finau and Harris English at the 2021 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits. “I’d like to think I’m playing better now than I was then,” McIlroy said. Added Lowry, who is making his fifth start in New Orleans, “We feed off each other well. I like to think we’re good for each other on and off the course.” Who among them would be considered the jokester, and who would be the serious one? McIlroy: “It’s probably not the answer that people would expect.” Lowry: “I’m probably more intense when it comes to playing tournament golf.” McIlroy: “Yeah, yeah.” They had flown in around midday Tuesday, and in lieu of a practice round they played some chipping games together at TPC Louisiana, as kids will do. Granted, each is in his mid-thirties, with wives and kids of their own, careers and goals, insurance policies and pension plans. They’re not the same carefree teenagers who played for Ireland in ’07. And yet … “We got some good restaurant reservations the next few nights,” McIlroy said in their press conference earlier in the day. Naturally, someone asked: Like which restaurants? “I don't know them,” Lowry said. “I just go where I'm told … Rory is the team captain.” They would like to do well. Neither is off to a strong start this season, and they spoke of playing to win and racking up FedExCup points to improve their positions going into the summer. Whatever happens, they are looking forward to a fun week, which would be of a piece with how this team was formed in the first place, as the byproduct of a boozy lunch at McIlroy’s house the week after the Ryder Cup last fall. McIlroy was the first one to broach the idea. “We talked about it that day,” Lowry said, “and then he sent me a text around Christmastime, and it was a nice little Christmas present for me to get.” McIlroy divulged that he’d previously had other suitors, specifically Bubba Watson, who had tried to get him to buddy up in New Orleans, but it never fit his schedule. And Lowry allowed that he never would have been the one to ask, certain as he was that McIlroy would say no. But now they’re here – the Irish in New Orleans. Their wives are close, too, everyone living near each other in South Florida. So are their kids, two of whom have playdates together. Lowry has said he considers himself privileged to have such a friendship with McIlroy, one of the game’s all-time greats, and that affection goes both ways. “Shane's been one of my biggest advocates,” McIlroy told the Irish Independent last fall. “He's a great person to be around, and a really good influence on me. There’s parts of (Lowry) that I really love; I see how he lives his life; I see how he is with his girls, and the relationships he has with the people from home that are still close to him. “He enjoys his life and everything he's worked for,” the three-time FedExCup champion added, “and I think spending time with him makes me a better version of myself.” Perhaps taking a page from Lowry, McIlroy said Wednesday that he, too, would be enjoying his life, partaking of all New Orleans has to offer this week, even if only in moderation. “I'll maybe venture down to Bourbon Street at some point,” McIlroy said, “and spend half an hour and say I've been there and I've got the T-shirt and then move on.”

Rory McIlroy making first NOLA appearance with Shane Lowry

Team MciLowry ready to take on Zurich Classic of New Orleans

Charlie Woods’ road to Pinehurst begins Thursday. Woods, the son of 82-time TOUR winner Tiger Woods, will compete in an 18-hole U.S. Open local qualifier Thursday at The Legacy Golf &amp; Tennis Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida. The younger Woods is slated to tee off at 8:18 a.m. ET Thursday. From the 84-player qualifying field, five will advance to Final Qualifying.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.fsga.org/tournament/resultsfileview/92966375-8b64-4912-9392-97c74c87ea00/?fileId=47861">Click here for scores as they come in Thursday</a>. The road to the U.S. Open features 109 local qualifying sites across April and May, leading to 13 Final Qualifying sites in late May and early June. Final Qualifying is known as Golf's Longest Day, requiring competitors to navigate 36 holes to earn a tee time at the season’s third major championship. To be eligible for qualifying, a player must have a Handicap Index not exceeding 0.4 or be a professional. The elder Woods is a three-time U.S. Open champion, but he has yet to win at Pinehurst No. 2. Tiger Woods finished T3 at Pinehurst in 1999, two strokes back of winner Payne Stewart, and he placed solo second at the venerable venue in 2005, two back of Michael Campbell. He didn’t compete at Pinehurst in 2014. Earlier this spring, Charlie Woods competed in a pre-qualifier for the TOUR’s Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches, his first foray at attempting to qualify for a TOUR-sanctioned event. The younger Woods shot 86 that day but will look to apply learnings in Thursday’s U.S. Open local qualifier. Tiger and Charlie Woods have paired together in the last four PNC Championships, the two-player team event contested each December that utilizes a scramble format. Team Woods finished runner-up in 2021 but has yet to win the event.

Charlie Woods’ road to Pinehurst begins Thursday.

Charlie Woods will play U.S. Open local qualifier Thursday

With a new season comes a new evolution for PGA TOUR Expert Picks. Fans of PGA TOUR betting can now see tips and picks for specific markets that the Golfbet team will be riding with each week. The traditional format for lineups and rosters will remain with Experts looking to come out on top in&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://fantasygolf.pgatour.com/#/roster/roster">PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf</a>. How it works: Each week, our experts from PGATOUR.COM will make their selections in PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf. Each lineup consists of four starters and two bench players that can be rotated after each round. Adding to the challenge is that every golfer can be used only three times per each of four Segments. Aside from the experts below, Golfbet Insider Rob Bolton breaks down the field at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans in this week's edition of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.pgatour.com/article/news/power-rankings/2024/04/22/power-rankings-zurich-classic-of-new-orleans-patrick-cantlay-xander-schauffele-rory-mcilroy">Power Rankings</a>. <h3>Betting picks</h3> WILL GRAY (Lead, Fantasy &amp; Betting) <ul><li>Winners: Nick Taylor/Adam Hadwin (+2800) –&nbsp;Two proven TOUR winners that will be looking to channel some good Presidents Cup vibes. I remain impressed with Taylor’s grasp of clutch moments and think these two could have the right resolve in crunch time.</li>,<li>Top 10: Taylor Moore/Matthew NeSmith (+300) –&nbsp;An eye-catching price on a pair that finished T4 here each of the last two years and now has double the margin for error to still cash a placement bet.</li>,<li>Longshot: Dylan Wu/Justin Lower (+6600) –&nbsp;Lower is someone that I think is trending toward a breakthrough, including a T4 finish last week in Punta Cana while Wu has been largely solid this spring.</li>,<li>H2H: Taylor/Hadwin (-110) over Sepp Straka/Brice Garnett –&nbsp;Like Matt, I’m going to run it back with my winner’s pick in the head-to-head market as I’ll happily back the Canadians over a duo that has been more erratic in recent weeks, particularly Garnett outside of his Puerto Rico win.</li></ul> BEN EVERILL (Senior writer, Fantasy &amp; Betting) <ul><li>Winners: Schauffele/Cantlay (+450) –&nbsp;I’m not a fan of advocating these short odds but this smells of a few years ago where these two can play their way back into full confidence ahead of the rest of the season.</li>,<li>Top 10: Nicolai Højgaard/Rasmus Højgaard (+210) –&nbsp;One of three sets of brothers in the field this one brings firepower and winning gravitas from the DP World Tour. This is a preview for future Ryder Cups …</li>,<li>Longshots: Pierceson Coody/Parker Coody (+10000) –&nbsp;Let’s keep the brotherly love going. They have the teamwork side of things down pat and many a good judge from the lower leagues of golf suggest these two are stars in the making with clearly a good pedigree in the sport.</li>,<li>H2H: Højgaard/Højgaard (-110) over Matt Fitzpatrick/Alex Fitzpatrick –&nbsp;As good as Matt Fitzpatrick is, I’m still waiting to see more from Alex. He was awesome at The Open Championship last year but struggled a bit in this event leaving me to trust the Højgaards.</li></ul> CHRIS BREECE (Senior content manager, Golfbet) <ul><li>Winners: Schauffele/Cantlay (+450) –&nbsp;It’s one of those weeks where I feel like overthinking things is a bad idea. Both players have shown they are making progress towards getting back to the top of their games. Both are also hungry for a win. With so many random pairings out there, I’m willing to take the short odds.</li>,<li>Top 10: Collin Morikawa/Kurt Kitayama (+115) –&nbsp;Morikawa has gotten things figured out. Though Kitayama hasn’t lived up to the standards of his Arnold Palmer Invitational win presented by Mastercard last year, he’s playing consistent golf right now with a Top 40 in nine of his 10 starts in 2024.</li>,<li>Longshot: Nick Hardy/Davis Riley (+5500)–&nbsp;The winners here last year. They’ve proven they love the team format and will find that spark again.</li>,<li>H2H: Taylor/Hadwin (-110) over Straka/Garnett –&nbsp;The pair finished second last year. Taylor has a win this year. Hadwin has two top-fives in his last six starts.</li></ul> MATT DELVECCHIO (Social content manager, Fantasy &amp; Betting) <ul><li>Winners: Davis Thompson/Andrew Novak (+4500) –&nbsp;It’s hard to find a pairing where both players are in good form. Novak was red hot in February and Thompson has had solid showings late March through early April. I trust the two of these guys will be able to lean on each other's ball-striking and put up a ton of birdies.</li>,<li>Top 10: Corey Conners/Taylor Pendrith (+225) –&nbsp;Both of the Canadian pairings have a lot to like but I’ll lean Conners/Pendrith over Taylor/Hadwin.</li>,<li>Longshot: Garrick Higgo/Ryan Fox (+6600) –&nbsp;The hope is that Fox can motivate Higgo to put together some great scoring this week. Fox has obviously been great recently, it's Higgo who is the wild car. I trust the team format brings some good play out of him.</li>,<li>H2H: Thompson/Novak (+105) over Doug Ghim/Chan Kim–&nbsp;Running back my winner in the matchup (could come back to hurt me).</li></ul> THINK YOU'RE BETTER THAN OUR EXPERTS?&nbsp;The PGA TOUR Experts league is once again open to the public. You can play our free fantasy game and see how you measure up against our experts below.

With a new season comes a new evolution for PGA TOUR Expert Picks. Fans of PGA TOUR betting can now see tips and picks for specific markets that the Golfbet team will be riding with each week. The traditional format for lineups and rosters will remain with Experts looking to come out on top in PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf.

Expert Picks: Zurich Classic of New Orleans

Several popular YouTubers had a chance to earn a spot at the inaugural Myrtle Beach Classic via “The Q at Myrtle Beach,” a 16-player, 18-hole qualifier that included YouTubers such as Grant Horvat, Peter Finch, Micah Morris and George Bryan IV. Veteran Korn Ferry Tour pro Matt Atkins won the qualifier and will compete on TOUR next month in his home state of South Carolina. Atkins appears frequently in Bryan Bros Golf YouTube content (a joint venture between George and his brother, Wesley), where Atkins, 33, is known affectionately as “Crashkins” – a term that often appears in comments when he is covered on TOUR and Korn Ferry Tour social channels. Bryan IV didn't make it easy for Atkins, though. Bryan led by two strokes to the par-5 18th hole but hit a wedge into the water and made bogey. Atkins drained a 15-foot birdie at No. 18 to match Bryan's 3-under 69, requiring a playoff hole, again the par-5 18th. Atkins won with a birdie on the first playoff hole, earning the Myrtle Beach Classic's sponsor exemption that was awarded via "The Q." Tyler Watts finished in third place at 1-under 71, while Scott Stevens and Jay Card tied for fourth at even-par 72. Finch and Turk Pettit shared sixth place at 1-over 73. Other scores included Morgan Deneen (74), Dan Rapaport (76), Ryan Wilkinson (76), Jamie Wilson (77), Luke Kwon (78), Grant Horvat (79), Fat Perez (81), Cole Lantz (83) and Micah Morris (86). The inaugural Myrtle Beach Classic will be contested May 9-12 at The Dunes Golf and Beach Club in Myrtle Beach, as an Additional Event alongside the Wells Fargo Championship. “The Q” was contested last month, with players capturing content for their personal social channels but withholding results until Tuesday, with a full-length feature video released on the Play Golf Myrtle Beach YouTube channel. Atkins has made 157 career Korn Ferry Tour starts, including a victory at the 2017 El Bosque Mexico Championship, which propelled him to his first TOUR card via the 2017 Korn Ferry Tour season-long standings. He is playing this season on conditional Korn Ferry Tour status; he will compete at this week’s Veritex Bank Championship after successfully Monday qualifying. He also Monday qualified for the TOUR’s Mexico Open at Vidanta earlier this year (his 26th career TOUR start), and he finished T38 at The RSM Classic last fall as a Monday qualifier, where he spoke emotionally about what it means to pursue a professional golf career amidst financial uncertainty.

Several popular YouTubers had a chance to earn a spot at the inaugural Myrtle Beach Classic via “The Q at Myrtle Beach,” a 16-player, 18-hole qualifier that included YouTubers such as Grant Horvat, Peter Finch, Micah Morris and George Bryan IV.

See who won YouTube qualifier for Myrtle Beach Classic

Team golf returns to the PGA TOUR this week with the eighth two-man edition of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Hosted at TPC Louisiana, the Zurich Classic welcomes 80 teams of two to dissect the swamp just outside New Orleans. Beginning with the 2017 tournament, two-man teams have played Four-balls (best ball) and Foursomes (alternate shot) to determine the champion. <h3>DraftKings – Top of the Board</h3> Both ranking inside the top 10 of the Official World Golf Rankings,&nbsp;Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele ($11,200)&nbsp;are the duo to defeat again. The 2022 champions shared fourth place last year in defense and tied more records. After setting the Four-balls mark of 59 in Round 1 in 2022, they equaled the Foursomes total of 63 last year. With Cantlay picking up his annual podium finish last week at Harbour Town and Schauffele cashing Top 25s for breakfast, it’s either fade or follow. Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry ($10,700)&nbsp;pair up for the first time in New Orleans. The Florida neighbors and Ryder Cup teammates will be looking to push each other over the finish line for a much-needed victory in both camps. The ability to paint the sprinkler line and rack up GIR will be the point of separation. The heat from the putters will determine their level of contention. <h3>Overvalued or undervalued?</h3> The Canadian club of&nbsp;Corey Conners and Taylor Pendrith ($9,500)&nbsp;have taken different paths to get here. Conners has not played this event since 2019, while Pendrith cashed T13 with Michael Gligic last season. Big hitters off the tee, Pendrith is the putting savant of the bunch. Forming the chemistry and playing alternate shot from opposite ends of the SG: Approach spectrum will be interesting. I’ll take the runners-up from last year instead. The pairing of&nbsp;Billy Horschel and Tyson Alexander ($8,900)&nbsp;would have provided more value if the two-time champ had calmly missed the cut last weekend in Punta Cana. Tossing in his affinity for TPC Louisiana with his red-hot week in the Dominican Republic, these two Gators in the swamp are not sneaking up on anyone. Taylor Moore and Matt NeSmith ($7,700)&nbsp;are making their third appearance together and have never finished outside of T4. Moore is rattling off made cuts for fun, but NeSmith has had a quiet spring. The partnership should rekindle the annual fire. If Danish twins&nbsp;Rasmus and Nicolai Højgaard ($9,100)&nbsp;are too rich for your lineup, head to Texas for twins&nbsp;Parker and Pierceson Coody ($6,660).&nbsp;Coming off a very solid week in the Dominican Republic, Parker secured his first top-10 payday with T6, while Pierceson hit the top 20 with a share of 18th&nbsp;place. <h3>Makers or breakers</h3> With the Presidents Cup heading to Royal Montreal in September, Canadians&nbsp;Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin ($9,200)&nbsp;will probably not be playing for the last time together in 2024. Returning as the runner-up duo from their first-time coupling last year, the Canadians posted 28-under – a total that would have won five of prior seven editions. Obviously not distracted by the NHL playoffs or the format, Taylor picked up his second top-10 in four starts with two different partners, while Hadwin secured his first top-10 finish. Taylor is the only winner this season on TOUR of the teams listed above. Hadwin has taken home T6 or better money three times in 2024 but has not found the top-three podium. I expect an onslaught of ownership this week for&nbsp;Sahith Theegala and Will Zalatoris ($10,300)&nbsp;from the top end. Zalatoris shared fourth here with Nick Hardy in 2022 before missing last year through injury. Theegala joins the party after cashing second at RBC Heritage last week, while Zalatoris has hit the top 10 in three of his last six. Young and fun, I’d expect a pile of birdies circled from this duo. The Sea Island duo of&nbsp;Davis Thompson and Andrew Novak ($8,100)&nbsp;should be flying well under the radar. Cashing six of eight with four in the top 25, Thompson joins Novak in the middle of a career-best year on TOUR. A run of three consecutive events in the top 10 was halted by a missed cut at THE PLAYERS. Rebounding nicely, he’s made the weekend in his last three, including T17 at Valspar. Playing for your country can be a powerful motivator. The Presidents Cup International team is welcoming auditions for the September event at Royal Montreal. The Taiwanese duo&nbsp;Kevin Yu and C.T. Pan ($7,800)&nbsp;know they can provide a way for Captain Mike Weir to notice them this week. <h3>The Lineup</h3> Here’s a look at how I would devise a six-team roster this week while staying below the $50,000 salary cap offered for DraftKings contests: <ul><li>Sahith Theegala and Will Zalatoris ($10,300)</li>,<li>Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin ($9,200)</li>,<li>Davis Thompson and Andrew Novak ($8,100)</li>,<li>Kevin Yu and C.T. Pan ($7,800)</li>,<li>Chandler Phillips and Jacob Bridgeman ($7,400)</li>,<li>Alex Smalley and Matti Schmid ($7,200)</li></ul>

Team golf returns to the PGA TOUR this week with the eighth two-man edition of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

DFS Dish: Expect ownership onslaught around Will Zalatoris, Sahith Theegala combo at Zurich Classic

Miles Russell, 15, made waves last week on the Korn Ferry Tour, earning the right to play again this week. He'll also compete on the PGA TOUR this fall. Russell will play the Butterfield Bermuda Championship in November on a sponsor exemption, the American Junior Golf Association announced Monday in a release. This marks the first tournament exemption in a partnership where the reigning AJGA Rolex Junior Player of the Year will receive an exemption into the PGA TOUR event at Port Royal Golf Course. Russell has yet to make a TOUR start, but he thrived last week in his debut at a professional event, finishing T20 at the Korn Ferry Tour’s LECOM Suncoast Classic. Russell carded rounds of 66-68-70-66 at Lakewood National Golf Club’s Commander course, not only&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.pgatour.com/korn-ferry-tour/article/news/latest/2024/04/19/miles-russell-15-becomes-youngest-to-make-cut-on-korn-ferry-tour-lecom-suncoast-classic">becoming the youngest player to make a Korn Ferry Tour cut</a>&nbsp;but also recording the first top-25 finish by a player under 16 on either the PGA TOUR or Korn Ferry Tour, on record (since 1983). By finishing inside the top 25, he earned a spot in this week’s Veritex Bank Championship, although he is not eligible to receive non-member points toward Special Temporary Membership prior to age 18. Last year, Russell became the youngest AJGA Boys Junior Player of the Year, surpassing Tiger Woods’ long-standing record. He joined 2009 AJGA Player of the Year Jordan Spieth and 2013 AJGA Player of the Year Scottie Scheffler in finishing top 25 in their TOUR-sanctioned debut; Spieth finished T16 at THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson in 2010, while Scheffler finished T22 at the same event in 2014. This year’s Butterfield Bermuda Championship, part of the FedExCup Fall, is slated for Nov. 14-17 at Port Royal Golf Course in Southampton, Bermuda. “I am honored to be receiving an exemption into the 2024 Butterfield Bermuda Championship,” Russell said in the AJGA release. “I have dreamt of playing on the PGA TOUR my entire life and to have that dream coming to fruition later this year is a feeling that I cannot describe. I am grateful to the tournament and the AJGA for their partnership that is allowing me this incredible opportunity.” Russell’s 2023 season included back-to-back victories at TaylorMade TP5 Junior All-Star and Moon Golf Junior All-Star, in addition to a seven-shot win at the Junior PGA Championship and a three-shot win at the Junior PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass. The native of Jacksonville Beach, Florida, is currently a high school freshman, attending online school. He'll make his second Korn Ferry Tour start this week in Texas, knowing he’ll have a PGA TOUR start later this year as well.

Exemption awarded as reigning AJGA Boys Junior Player of the Year

Miles Russell, 15, receives sponsor exemption into Butterfield Bermuda Championship

&nbsp; Check out this week's available tournament. Only here at <a href="http://www.igx360.com/?fbclid=IwAR3oG85pL5Tnr-Qd4W1hewrZYLxzkoamFQS0T5ofqgzqBzcUnNl8sunskdw" target="_blank">www.igx360.com</a>

Check out this week's available tournament. Only here at www.igx360.com

Tournament for this week

The roster for Tiger Woods' TGL team has been announced, and Woods has rounded out his team with one of the game's rising stars, one of its most popular players and one of its wittiest. Tom Kim, Max Homa and Kevin Kisner will be joining Woods on his Jupiter Links GC team when the tech-infused golf league kicks off next year. “I have already shared my excitement and optimism for TGL as a league and product,” Woods, who is part owner of Jupiter Links Golf Club and co-founder of TMRW Sports, said in a release. “Now that we have finalized our roster with a team of world-class golfers, I am even more confident that this group will proudly represent the Jupiter area and connect with our fans for years to come.” In Homa, Woods has a fellow Southern California native on the roster. The two shared the stage when Homa won The Genesis Invitational hosted by Woods, and they were paired together at the 2022 Open Championship at St. Andrews and this year’s Masters Tournament. Homa has credited Woods for inspiring him to become a professional golfer, dating back to when Homa watched Woods play the 1998 Genesis in Homa’s hometown of Valencia, California. “Following Tiger’s career is one of the main reasons that I became an avid golfer,” Homa said. “I remember watching him win the 1997 Masters, and now getting to play alongside him has been amazing.” Kim has been winning PGA TOUR events at a pace not seen since Woods. The 21-year-old already owns three PGA TOUR titles. When he won his second at the 2022 Shriners Children’s Open, Kim became the first player since Woods to win multiple PGA TOUR titles before turning 21. Kisner is a four-time PGA TOUR winner and two-time Presidents Cup participant who brings another veteran presence to the team. Known for his sardonic wit, Kisner has made a foray into broadcasting with NBC Sports this year and will surely add another element to the inter-team banter that will be part of TGL competition. “I feel very privileged to have played in the Tiger Era,” Kisner said in a statement. “Having the opportunity to compete against and alongside the GOAT has been one of the things I’ll remember most at the end of my career. “While I know we will have a lot of fun as a team with me, Tiger, Max and Tom, I also know when Tiger’s competitive fire kicks in, we are going to be ready to play and win. This is the perfect team to bring both fun and competition together at the same time. Can’t wait.” The Jupiter Links Golf Club logo incorporates the classic "Palm Flag" of Jupiter and features a hybrid golf pin flag and palm tree. The palm branches of the tree represent the red sun on the horizon, while the three sections of the pin represent the three competing golfers at each TGL match. The handwritten font is an ode to Woods' signature.

The roster for Tiger Woods' TGL team has been announced, and Woods has rounded out his team with one of the game's rising stars, one of its most popular players and one of its wittiest. Tom Kim, Max Homa and Kevin Kisner will be joining Woods on his Jupiter Links GC team when the tech-infused golf league kicks off next year.

Favorites

Current Tournament

Ranking

Tours

Challenge Tour UAE Challenge Round 4

Zurich Classic set for dramatic finish with Rory McIlroy/Shane Lowry two back in team debut

Projected Aon Swing 5, Next 10 standings after Round 3 of Zurich Classic

Former BYU teammates Patrick Fishburn, Zac Blair lead Zurich Classic of New Orleans

Euro Tour ISPS Handa Championship Round 4

PGA tour Zurich Classic of New Orleans Round 4

Challenge Tour UAE Challenge Round 4

Zurich Classic set for dramatic finish with Rory McIlroy/Shane Lowry two back in team debut

Player Comparison