BetMGM: PGA Tour Public Betting, Money Percentages: Zurich Classic

Ahead of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, I’m here to deliver a PGA Tour public betting report.

Traditionally, public betting sides are defined as the team receiving more than 51% of all tickets. However, in an index outright winner market, it’s the players receiving a plurality of tickets. 

Bettors can also identify sharp betting preferences by searching out players receiving a higher percentage of money compared to their bets percentage. 

With that outlined, let’s dive into this week’s report based on golf odds at the BetMGM online sportsbook. 

PGA Tour Public Betting – Zurich Classic of New Orleans

In the first and only team event on the 2024 PGA Tour calendar, bettors are dedicating their bankroll to the three shortest-priced teams. 

Team Sahith Theegala and Will Zalatoris (+800) lead the ticket count at BetMGM. Currently, the pair is sitting on 16.3% of all tickets. 

Next on the list are the pre-tournament favorites – Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele (+450). The Ryder Cup stalwarts have received 15.1% of tickets to win for the second time in three years. 

Finally, Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry (+750) – making their Zurich Classic debut – have received 8.8% of all tickets. 

Only five other teams have received at least 3% of tickets:

• Collin Morikawa/Kurt Kitayama (+1200): 7.9% of tickets
• Nick Taylor/Adam Hadwin (+2500): 7.2% of tickets
• Tom Hoge/Maverick McNealy (+2500): 4.8% of tickets
• Nicolai Højgaard/Rasmus Højgaard (+2500): 3.7% of tickets
• Matt Fitzpatrick/Alex Fitzpatrick (+2800): 3.2% of tickets

PGA Tour Sharp Betting Picks – Zurich Classic of New Orleans

Only four teams have received a higher handle percentage compared to their best percentage with three coming by at least a percent. 

The slightest difference occurs with Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin. The Canadian duo has received 7.2% of bets compared to 7.9% of all dollars. 

As for the three other teams, it’s the three teams leading the ticket count: Theegala/Zalatoris, Cantlay/Schauffele and McIlroy/Lowry. 

Beginning with the former, those three teams have accounted for 24.8%, 19.2% and 10.6% of the total handle, respectively. 

Only one of those teams – Theegala and Zalatoris – have seen a shift in their odds, though. After opening at +1000, they’ve hit +800 as recently as Wednesday afternoon. 

A final note – Taylor and Hadwin have experienced the biggest odds drop. After opening at +4000 to win this year, they’re now +2500 to win the event. 

Last year, the Canadian team finished second.

Nick Hennion is a senior content writer for BetMGM. His previous stops include VSiN, NBC Sports, The Action Network and Forbes Betting. He owns a bachelor's degree from Syracuse University and a master's degree from Northwestern University.