Sandman Golf Crush & Fade: Zurich Classic [Partners Event]

Welcome to Crush & Fade on Enter Sandman Sports. It is great to be back after my lengthy hiatus.  Last week at the RBC Heritage I was good on my Scottie Scheffler pick as well as my FADE picks of Matt Fitzpatrick and Jordan Spieth.  This week we have the Zurich Classic [Partners] event and I can’t wait to get into the breakdown on one of my favorite events on the PGA Tour calendar.

The RBC Heritage & Corales Puntacana

Justin Thomas finds the Winner’s Circle after a 3-year absence.  It was interesting that he did it with his normal caddie Matt “Rev” Minister out with a back injury and the recent free agent Joe Greiner stepping in.  Greiner is available because Max Homa kicked his buddy and longtime caddie to the curb after his prolonged slump since the 2024 Masters.  I was wondering if JT would stick with Greiner after the win, but he came out earlier this week putting any speculation to rest stating that he would be sticking with Rev on the bag as soon as he is healthy enough to get back out there.

Andrew Novak gave Justin a good run for his money and could’ve won the tournament in regulation but his 8-foot putt on the 72^nd hole never really had a shot.  Thomas won in extras on the first playoff hole when he drained a 20-footer.  Kudos to CBS Sports for the “worm cam” look at the putt which I love as a viewer. 

The opposite field event in the Dominican Republic looked like it was Joel Dahmen’s return to Victory Lane as well, but a tough final 9 holes saw him finish bogey-bogey-bogey and Garrick Higgo held on for a one-shot victory over 5 players at 13-under.  Congrats to Higgo who has completely retooled his golf swing with Sean Foley.  It will be fascinating to see if the South African can keep the momentum rolling down in New Orleans this week alongside Ryan Fox.

Zurich Classic [Partners Event]

This week the Tour heads to the Bayou and the French Quarter for one of my favorite golf events of the season.  I love team formats and this one always delivers at TPC Louisiana.

The defending champions are Rory McIlroy & Sugar Shane Lowry.  This feels like a great opportunity for Rory to reintegrate after his Masters victory a couple of weeks ago.  He is playing alongside his buddy and fellow countryman Shane and as defending champions they have a little something to prove but it has to feel like an elephant has been lifted from his shoulders.  Rory’s form has been stellar as has Shane’s coming in to this one.  I love how much these guys love playing with each other and it will be great theater this week.

I have my eyes on a few pairings this week who have shown the proven capability in this format the past few years.

Sandman Top Bets

If it ain’t broke pick of the week…Rory McIlroy & Shane Lowry.  At +350 this feels like pretty good odds for the class of this field.

A reminder that each week I will highlight some players I think might be good plays in this category. I might stretch to find the value and steer clear of the chalky plays in some tournaments.

I am a golf picker that loves recent form and course history more than anything.

I love JT Poston & Keith Mitchell because I feel like their games compliment each other so well.  Same for Billy Horschel & Tom Hoge except that more than the games I think the personalities mesh well for success.  Give me the French Irish connection of Thomas Detry & Bobby MacIntyre for my 3^rd selection and I also love Nico Echavarria and Max Greyserman because these young guys can flat out play and I think this course fits them.

• Rory McIlroy & Shane Lowry are the defending champs and my lock of the week.  Yes, ultimate chalk but I don’t know how you pick against the talent, the form, the vibes & the success at this track.
• Billy Horschel & Tom Hoge are such an interesting pairing.  Billy Ho feels like the ultimate teammate in this format.  He has won it before…and Tom Hoge seems to get down on himself when the putts are not dropping as his iron game usually has him hitting GIR and giving himself good shots at birdies.  I think Billy channels his TGL success in the team formats and keeps Hoge in a good headspace…his creeping up on his putts still kills me, but I don’t know if there is a player on Tour that I have learned to like more due to his interactions with creators on YouTube as well as TGL.  I’ll be rooting for this pairing to be in the mix on Sunday.
• JT Poston & Keith Mitchell have all the pieces working at times, but haven’t been able to string together 4 performances over the course of a tournament.  I love how these guys compliment each other and if they can get the flatsticks working look out.
• Thomas Detry & Bobby MacIntyre have all the game in the world and I look for them to be on a heater or struggle.  No middle-ground with this duo.
• Nico Echavarria & Max Greyserman has been playing solid and has the game to compete at Harbour Town.  Throw out one bad round last year and he easily slots into the Top10.  He completed his tournament in 2024 with a solid 6-under 65 so he has good vibes teeing off on Thursday.

CRUSH: Rory McIlroy & Shane Lowry WIN +350 CRUSH: Billy Ho & Tom Hoge Top5 +475 CRUSH: JT Poston & Keith Mitchell Top5 +400 CRUSH: Thomas Detry & Robert MacIntyre Top5 +400 CRUSH: Nico Echavarria & Max Greyserman Top5 +650

Picking guys to FADE can be a bit trickier given there isn’t a bet you are playing but rather looking at some of the chalkier picks that I think might struggle this week.  This week it is a look at a couple of Bro Duos.

Matt & Alex Fitzpatrick is such an interesting story of brothers and the competitiveness that exists along with the family dynamic and support of each other.  The Netflix Full Swing doc was fascinating to watch how Alex has toiled in the background of Matt’s success.  But, there is something to be said for Alex and his game lately who has been playing pretty well over on the DP World Tour.  I am fading these guys for a Top5 because I feel like there is a secret hatred here that may just bubble to the surface this week…ok, not really.  But, I still have not seen Matt’s form be something that I will back as he faded again into middle of the pack on Sunday last week.

Nicolai & Rasmus Hojgaard just haven’t been playing very well.  Maybe playing together fixes all ills this week?  I just think in this format you can’t leave your partner in tough positions and with the inconsistencies in these guys form I wouldn’t lay any money on them to finish in the Top5.

FADE: Fitzpatricks Top5 +850 FADE: Hojgaards Top5 +550

Good luck this week!

The Sandman