This week: Zurich Classic of New Orleans

TPC Louisiana, 7,425 yards, par 72

Defending champion: Justin Rose

Course designer: Pete Dye, 2004

TV: Thursday-Friday: Golf Channel, 2-5 PM CT/3-6 PM ET; Saturday-Sunday:Golf  12-1:30 PM CT/1-2:30 PM ET; CBS 2-5 PM CT/3-6 PM ET.

Weather: OK, not great. Mid 80’s all four days. Thursday, sunny but possible t-storm, Friday, sunny, Saturday partly cloudy, Sunday, strong t-storms possible in the AM, so could be out by early in the morning. Winds: 8-15 throughout the tournament, could be stronger Sunday afternoon after system passes through.

Key groups Thursday:

Teeing off on No.10 @ 7:40 AM CT:

Jason Day, Danny Lee, Steve Stricker.

Day is No.1 in the world, and leads the tour in victories since 2012 with 8 including two this year, back to back, at the Arnie and the WGC Match Play. Spieth is next with 6 and Bubba, Rory and Jimmy Walker are tied for third with 5. Capable every week with his supreme talent. Lee won at the Greenbriar Classic last July. I get him confused a lot with John Huh? But he’s a solid  player. The 49 year old Stricker is still competing hard on Tour, and leads the Tour in strokes gained putting this year. He’s always been a stellar putter. He has 12 victories on the tour in his career. Hasn’t ever been able to snag a major, but has had a very solid career.

No.10 @ 7:50 AM

Rickie Fowler, Ben Crane, Jason Bohn

Rickie is capable every week like Day. He’s No.5 in the world. The 27 year old has been getting closer and closer to a major. Has taken a break for a couple of weeks so his batteries are recharged and ready. Crane’s a good player. Jason Bohn, the 43 year old who played at the University of Alabama, won here in 2010, and is a really interesting story. He had a heart attack this winter, and had 99% blockage in an artery, which doctors call, “a widow maker.” But he’s come back, he says he’s learned to enjoy life every day and says the heart attack has been the best thing that has happened in his life. He’s really mellowed as he used to be highly emotional and had a major temper, and appreciates every day. It’s a super story.

No.1 @ 12:40 PM

Charley Hoffman, Smylie Koffman, David Toms

Charley won last week at the Valero Texas with a clutch 14 foot birdie putt on 18 to hold off Patrick Reed by a shot. It was awesome to see the 39 year old capture a tour victory after coming so close this season and not being able to close on Sundays. Charley told the CBS reporter afterwards that he always felt like he was a closer and he proved it last week. He has four PGA Tour victories on his resume with last week’s win.

Smylie played in the final group with Spieth at Augusta National earlier this month. Must have been a thrill for the 24 year old from Vestavia Hills, Alabama. He didn’t end up that well on Sunday finishing tied for 29th with a final round 81, but he has won this season at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas last October. The future looks bright for Kaufman. You never know, but he’s got some serious talent. The 49 year old Toms is an LSU guy, so he’s on his home turf. Toms has won 13 times on tour in his career, that’s impressive. And that includes the 2001 PGA Championship at the Atlanta Athletic Club.

No.1 @12:50 PM

Justin Rose, Billy Horschel, K.J. Choi

Rosie is the defending champion. At TPC Louisiana his score to par, -60, his scoring average, 68.3, his birdies/eagles, 82, and his rounds in the 60’s, 13, all are No.1 since 2012. So he’s most definitely a factor once again, though Rose himself said the course doesn’t remember what you did last year. Horschel is the 2013 champion. He sank a super clutch 25 foot birdie putt for the victory in ’13 and gave it a passionate fist pump and reaction. It was memorable. The 45 year old Choi has eight tour wins in his career and almost won at Torrey Pines this year, but impossible playing conditions on a Monday finish, allowed Brandt Snedeker, who played an awesome final Sunday round 69  at the Farmers in nearly impossible conditions as well, and didn’t have to play in the 35 MPH winds on Monday, to capture his second Farmers’ title. K.J., who shot 76 on that Monday, has issues with his putter sometimes, but has always been one of the best ball strikers on tour.

Key holes

No.13, 403 yards, Par 4

A hole that really long players, Bubba, J.B. Holmes, Dustin Johnson-like players, with wind at their backs, can go for. It’s a pretty high risk-reward hole. Can either be a kick in birdie or a costly bogey on Sunday.

No.18, 589 yards, Par 5

Players who can really take it deep could go for this hole in two. There are mounds throughout the hole off the fairway and bunkers by the green and a water hazard to the right. The leader on Sunday’s best bet would be to make it a three shot hole and sink a birdie putt to clinch it. There will be a lot of birdies here, though Sunday could be interesting with the wind probably picking up after the morning storms, if they happen.

Prediction

I’m going with the 29 year old former Florida Gator. He’s won three times on tour and captured the Fed Ex Cup in 2014. He finished tied for fourth last week at San Antonio, and he’s ready to capture his fourth tour victory.

Billy Horschel

Sleeper pick:

Andrew Loupe

This 27 year old LSU product and native of Baton Rouge could arguably be the best athlete on the tour, although Dustin Johnson supporters would take exception to that. This guy works out with a trainer in Baton Rouge who says he’s better athletically than guys he works out who play on Sundays, and in Major League baseball. I watched him stand flat footed and jump on top of a four foot box on Inside the PGA Tour. He was an all state basketball player in Baton Rouge. His clubhead speed is 125 MPH, which is the fastest on tour. I like this guy’s athletic ability and he’s shown clutchness. Loupe has a shot to get it done.