The Betting Bunker: Three golf betting tips for the 2025 Zurich Classic
In the latest addition to our tipping arsenal, Odds Now's golf expert Ross Kilvington (@Kilvington91) casts his eye over the 2025 Zurich Classic, which tees off on Thursday.
Ross is showing a healthy profit for the season so far and has three fancies for New Orleans' unique pairs event!
Zurich Classic 2025 – key betting insights
The Zurich Classic is next up on the PGA Tour roster and if it has any of the drama of the previous two weeks, then we are set for another thriller.
Rory McIlroy of course dramatically won the Masters via a playoff over Justin Rose, sealing the career Grand Slam in the process. Then, last week, it was Justin Thomas’ time to end a hoodoo, securing his first Tour win since the 2022 PGA Championship by winning a playoff over Andrew Novak.
The Zurich Classic takes a break from standard strokeplay format as teams of two pair up across four days of competition. McIlroy will be looking to defend his title alongside fellow Irishman Shane Lowry.
TPC Louisiana hosts the event for the 19th time. The Par 72, 7,442 yard course was designed by famed architect Pete Dye and opened in 2004.
With plenty of water hazards and bunkers (over 100 throughout the course), it provides a stern test for the field every year. The par-5 18th is the signature hole at TPC Louisiana. With water in play all the way down the right side of the hole, an accurate drive and approach shot is paramount for a chance of birdie.
The event switched from individual to a team format for the 2017 edition and it has proved to be extremely popular with fans.
Will McIlroy and Lowry successfully defend? Or can another team come from lower down in the field to upset the apple cart? We at Odds Now select three pairs who might provide excellent value.
Zurich Classic 2025 betting tips
Selection #1 - Billy Horschel and Tom Hoge - 28/1 @ Paddy Power (6 places 1/5 odds)
Every player must queue to offer their services alongside Billy Horschel for this event, given his previous success at the Zurich Classic.
He won the tournament when it was an individual event in 2013, before partnering with Scott Piercy to trumph again in 2018.
Aside from his two wins, Horschel has also finished second, T4 and secured another two top-20 finishes.
His partner this year, Tom Hoge, has enjoyed a solid season to date. A win may have eluded him, but a T14 finish at the Masters proves he belongs among the big boys.
Driving may not be a strong suit, but Hoge ranks 12th on tour for putts per round (27.78) and seventh for one-putt percentage (45.65%). Paired with Horschel, this should give him plenty of confidence when it comes to taming TPC Louisiana.
Selection #2 - Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin - 40/1 @ Unibet (6 places, 1/5 odds)
The Canadian duo of Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin are teaming up once more and they have unfinished business at this event.
The countrymen finished second in 2023 with only a record 30-under score from Nick Hardy and Davis Riley besting their 28-under total.
A tenth place finish followed in 2024 and it is clear that the duo complement each other well. Taylor’s approach play is among the finest on tour, while Hadwin ranks highly on tour for putts between eight and ten feet. If the former can create birdie chances in the alternate shot format, then Hadwin will be poised to make them count.
Taylor won the Sony Open at the start of the year and while this is a career highlight, a T40 finish at Augusta suggests he is trending back in the right direction once again.
Could it be third time lucky for this duo in Louisiana this week?
Selection #3 - Bud Cauley and Kevin Tway - 100/1 @ Sporting Index (6 places, 1/5 odds)
Bud Cauley is certainly a man in form heading into the Zurich Classic.
A top-six finish at the Players Championship was followed by a T4 at the Valspar and a T5 at the Valero Texas Open. And while he never contented at the RBC Heritage last week, the 35-year-old is due a win on tour.
Ranked third on the circuit for scoring average (70.014) and 28th for strokes gained when putting (0.418), Cauley has been one of the most consistent performers on tour across several key metrics. He also has some course form here, posting a T5 in 2017 alongside Justin Thomas.
His partner, Kevin Tway, hasn’t had the greatest of seasons, failing to crack the top 50 in any of his four starts this season – but he does have a decent record at TPC Louisiana too.
Tway finished third in that same 2017 renewal alongside Kelly Kraft and has since followed up with a T13 in 2019 and T11 last year, where he was paired with Kraft once again.
A new partnership with two players who clearly enjoy the format and test, there's every chance this pairing could outrun their three-figure odds.
Ross' three Zurich Classic 2025 betting picks
1.5pts ew - Billy Horschel and Tom Hoge - 28/1 @ Paddy Power (6 places)
1.5pts ew - Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin - 40/1 @ Unibet (6 places)
0.5pts ew - Bud Cauley and Kevin Tway - 100/1 @ Sporting Index (6 places)
Total stake - 4pts (all place bets settled at 1/5 odds)
Seasonal Stats
Events tipped by Ross - 6
Total staked in 2025: 21pts
Total returns in 2025: 31.8pts
P/L in 2025: +10.8pts