The 2025 Zurich Classic of New Orleans is approaching, and there’s much anticipation as Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry aim to defend their title. They recently achieved an impressive 25-under par over four rounds last year. Competing against them are notable teams, including Collin Morikawa paired with Kurt Kitayama, alongside the reigning champions Nick Hardy and Davis Riley.

Play is set to begin at TPC Louisiana on Thursday, April 24, with McIlroy and Lowry entering as clear favorites at +360, closely followed by Morikawa and Kitayama at 12-1. A significant shift is expected as the model projected these outcomes based on extensive simulations, reflecting the potential for surprises in the upcoming tournament.

Predictions

The model warns that Morikawa and Kitayama might not finish Among the top contenders, as they struggled in the previous year’s event, finishing with a T-23. This season, Morikawa’s performance has dipped—he ranks 85th in putting and 87th in one-putt percentage.

Another illustration of unexpected results comes in the form of Brice Garnett and Sepp Straka, who are expected to perform beyond their 33-1 odds, indicating a possible lucrative opportunity for bettors.

Odds Update: Along with McIlroy/Lowry, here are leading odds for notable pairings:

• McIlroy / Lowry +360
• Morikawa / Kitayama +1200
• Detry / MacIntyre +1800
• Poston / Mitchell +1800

Check back on SportsLine for ongoing updates and further detailed projections leading into the 2025 Zurich Classic.