Zurich Classic of New Orleans preview
Wednesday 26th March 2008
By Paul Krishnamurty
For one of the lesser PGA Tour events, the Zurich Classic of New Orleans has attracted a stronger field than one might have expected. I suspect widespread desperation to win something ahead of the Masters might explain the motivation for Jim Furyk, Retief Goosen and Padraig Harrington to play an event they missed last year.
A long-standing event previously held at English Turn, this will be the third time the venue has been TPC Louisiana. 2005 and 2007 were the other occasions, though the course has changed dramatically since that first staging because of the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina.
Nevertheless, there were strong trends that applied to both runnings. Most importantly, Tim Petrovic in '05 and Nick Watney last year were both landing their maiden PGA Tour victories. In fact, a look through last year's leaderboard confirms that this is one venue where winning experience is not particularly important. Behind 26 year-old Watney, runner-up Ken Duke is still yet to win as is 3rd placed Antony Kim who also happened to be the youngest player on the Tour. In fact of last year's top-7, Mark Calcavecchia was the only one ever to have previously won a PGA Tour event.
Taking that into consideration then, I'm steering clear of the big names at the head of the market who are making their course debuts. In any case, Furyk and Goosen's weekend performances came out of the blue, a massive improvement on anything they'd shown in recent months. With very different conditions expected here, there must be a sizeable doubt that they will repeat the trick.
At roughly the same price, STEVE STRICKER makes much more appeal. At No.4, Stricker is the highest ranked player in this field and if he continues in this ultra-consistent vein he will surely be winning again before long. Consider these statistics dating back to the start of 2007. In 28 events during that period, Stricker has won once and made the top-5 on eight other occasions. He's made the top-20 a further nine times, suggesting that anyone prepared to repeatedly back him each-way is pretty much guaranteed a good run for their money. I found it notable too that Stricker finished a respectable 14th and 6th on his two most recent events in Florida, seeing as throughout his entire career, Stricker has tended to struggle in that state. Back on a course he played well enough in 11th last year, another bold show is expected.
Obviously, the experienced Stricker would break with the tradition of this course producing first-time winners, but I am also backing a couple of players who perfectly fit the usual winning profile. There are very few more likely first-time winners than STEVE MARINO and JOHN MALLINGER, particularly the former.
We backed Marino on his last outing at Bay Hill, and though he never challenged once again his overall performance warrants plenty of respect. Marino seemed a certainty to miss the cut with an opening day 75, before fighting back very well for 21st against what was a stronger field than this week's opposition. Once again he produced the excellent tee-to-green play that has been his trademark since October, a period in which he has not missed a single cut.
As for Mallinger, he's impressed with top-7 finishes on two of his last three starts. Since finishing as the second-highest rookie on last year's money list, the 28 year-old has been flagged up by numerous good judges as one of the best emerging US talents. Seeing as he finished 3rd here last year, New Orleans looks the ideal opportunity for him to make the breakthrough into the winners' circle.
Sweden's DANIEL CHOPRA remains in good nick as he urgently strives for a Ryder Cup spot. As he plays full-time in the States, Chopra's best chance lies in making the top-5 on the Ryder Cup world points list, or doing enough to convince Nick Faldo he is worthy of one of those increasingly precious wildcards. He's made the top-15 on both previous visits to TPC Louisiana, and played better at Doral last week than 34th place suggests. A quadruple bogey midway through his final round on Monday cost him dearly in terms of position and prize money.
Finally, WOODY AUSTIN has been playing some cracking golf from tee to green in recent weeks and looks well capable of gaining some reward in an event of this stature. It was no surprise that Austin couldn't keep pace with the big guns at Doral in less than ideal wet, long conditions, yet the stats record that he ranked 3rd in the crucial greens in regulation department. This week's test is far more suitable, as 5th and 18th on his two previous course outings show.
