Maybe, in retrospect, Rory McIlroy sang his emotional Masters win into existence a year ago.
While celebrating a sudden death playoff win at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, McIlroy got up on stage with partner Shane Lowry and belted out a rendition of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” along with a delighted crowd of fans. The clip went viral, and McIlroy never did stop believing. A year later, TPC Louisiana and the 2025 Zurich Classic of New Orleans will be the site of McIlroy’s first appearance since completing golf’s grand slam at Augusta National Golf Club earlier this month.
McIlroy and Lowry are the heavy favorites to repeat as tournament champions when the PGA Tour’s only team event begins on Thursday. The field also includes contenders like Collin Morikawa (with Kurt Kitiyama), Sepp Straka (with Brice Garnett), Wyndham Clark (with Taylor Moore), Robert MacIntyre (with Thomas Detry) and Billy Horschel (with Tom Hoge), all of whom are currently ranked among the top 25 in the world golf rankings.
Golf experts are weighing in with their predictions and picks before the 2025 Zurich Classic of New Orleans tees off on Thursday. Here’s a breakdown of what to know heading into this PGA Tour team event, including the format and schedule, the favorites and sleepers, and latest tournament odds:
When does the Zurich Classic of New Orleans start?
The 2025 Zurich Classic of New Orleans is scheduled to start with first-round action on Thursday, April 24. The tournament runs through the final round on Sunday, April 27.
Zurich Classic of New Orleans format
The Zurich Classic of New Orleans is once again the PGA Tour’s lone official team event on the 2025 FedEx Cup schedule. The tournament, which is currently held at TPC Louisiana, switched to this format in 2017. This year’s field includes 160 golfers divided among 80 teams.
The first round on Thursday will feature the two-man teams playing fourballs, also known as best ball. For Friday’s second round, the duos will flip to foursomes, also known as alternate shot. The cut line will be the lowest-scoring 33 teams and ties. Golfers will play fourballs again for Saturday’s third round before playing foursomes for the final round on Sunday.
Zurich Classic 2025 odds: Favorites to win PGA Tour team event
BetMGM Zurich Classic of New Orleans tournament winner odds as of 10 p.m. ET on Wednesday, April 23
- Rory McIlroy/Shane Lowry (+350)
- Collin Morikawa/Kurt Kitayama (+1400)
- Billy Horschel/Tom Hoge (+1600)
- J.T. Poston/Keith Mitchell (+1600)
- Robert MacIntyre/Thomas Detry (+2000)
- Wyndham Clark/Taylor Moore (+2200)
- Ben Griffin/Andrew Novak (+2500)
- Aaron Rai/Sahith Theegala (+2500)
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2025 Zurich Classic of New Orleans predictions
Will Gray, PGATour.com: Ben Griffin and Andrew Novak (+2500)
“Novak narrowly missed out on his first win last week at Harbour Town and has been in the final group three times, while Griffin missed out on the Masters by the thinnest of margins. Combining forces might get it done.”
Patrick McDonald, CBS Sports: J.T. Poston and Keith Mitchell (+1600)
“Mitchell and Poston are the perfect combination of firepower and finesse. Mitchell has become a first-round leader lock over the last month thanks to massive strides in the ball-striking category, while Poston has regained his form with the putter. Expect them to take care of business in four-ball and acquit themselves nicely in foursomes as their games complement each other.”
Matt Vincenzi, Sports Illustrated: Billy Horschel and Tom Hoge (+1600)
“Horschel got his first PGA Tour victory at TPC Louisiana in 2013 and then won the team event there in 2018 alongside Scott Piercy, who has Las Vegas ties similar to Tom Hoge. Both Horschel and Hoge are in solid form coming into the week. Hoge is coming off of four consecutive top-20 finishes, including a T3 at the Players and a T14 at the Masters.”
Zurich Classic 2025: Sleeper picks
Sportsbook Wire: Joel Dahmen and Harry Higgs (+8000)
“Dahmen really should have won the Corales Puntacana Championship last week, but he bogeyed the last 3 holes to lose by 1. He’ll try to bounce back in New Orleans with Higgs as his partner after making the cut last year with Keith Mitchell on his team.”
Will Gray, PGATour.com: Justin Lower and Chad Ramey (+6600)
“Intriguing combo here, with Lower a feast-or-famine option who has popped at some mid-tier events in recent months playing alongside Ramey, who comes in with some form and made a playoff here last year with a different partner.”
DraftKings Network: Bud Cauley and Kevin Tway (+6600)
“Cauley remains in outstanding form, despite taking a step back last week at the RBC Heritage. … He’s also familiar with this course … and has had great results at other Pete Dye setups like TPC Stadium, where he’s finished Top 10 on multiple occasions. Tway is struggling, but he’s a veteran of this event who has posted some big finishes at TPC Louisiana.”
WHAT TO KNOW: 2025 Zurich Classic of New Orleans Thursday first round tee times
Zurich Classic 2025 prize money
The total purse for the 2025 Zurich Classic of New Orleans is $9.2 million. Each member of the winning team will receive $1.656 million for his efforts.
How to watch Zurich Classic 2025: TV channel, live streaming, schedule
The 19th event on the PGA Tour’s 2025 schedule will be carried live on TV by Golf Channel (which you can watch for free on Fubo) all four days. CBS will pick up live coverage of the third and final rounds. There is streaming on ESPN+ as well as the NBC Sports app, Paramount+ and Fubo, which offers a free trial for new subscribers.
All times Eastern
First round, Thursday, April 24
- 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m., PGA Tour Live on ESPN+
- 3-6 p.m., Golf Channel, NBC Sports app
Second round, Friday, April 25
- 8:45 a.m.-6 p.m., PGA Tour Live on ESPN+
- 3-6 p.m., Golf Channel, NBC Sports app
Third round, Saturday, April 26
- 9 a.m.-6 p.m., PGA Tour Live on ESPN+
- 1-3 p.m., Golf Channel, NBC Sports app
- 3-6 p.m., CBS, Paramount+
Final round, Sunday, April 27
- 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m., PGA Tour Live on ESPN+
- 1-3 p.m., Golf Channel, NBC Sports app
- 3-6 p.m., CBS, Paramount+
Watch the Zurich Classic with Fubo
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