Fantasy Crystal Ball: Zurich Classic of New Orleans

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This week, the PGA Tour heads to the TPC of Louisiana (not English Turn, shucks) for the playing of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.  Andres Romero is the defending champion of the event.  We have Kenny Perry making his first appearance since the Masters.  And, it's a good week for the PGA Tour as Zurich has re-upped as tournament sponsor through 2014.

TPC Louisiana is a pretty long course - a smidge over 7300 yards.  It can be susceptible to Gulf winds.  Like a lot of TPC courses, this one features significant bunkering and lots of undulation on the greens.

As for the field, Sal Johnson offers this interesting stat about the winners of this event:

Nine of the last 13 Zurich Classic winners and 17 overall have not won on the PGA Tour, including six of the last seven. Eight of the last 17 winners, including 2008 champion Andres Romero, had either missed the cut the year prior or were making their tournament debut.

The tournament seems to produce first time winners despite decent post-Katrina fields.  So, picking a champion will be tough.  It's best to just form a decent team in the hope that your random guess at a champion will be right.

Whatever you do, though, don't pick Kenny Perry.  His best finish here ever was a T23 last year.  Nevermind the Masters hangover - he just doesn't do NOLA well.

Nick Watney is a good bet as a former winner, though he bounces around between a good finish and 50th place.  Still, should earn some decent points for you.

Steve Stricker has a consistent history of above average play in this event, so he deserves a spot on your team.  Sean O'Hair has played this event every other season and finished in the top 15 each time he has.  Less consistent record, but maybe he rebounds from getting Tigered here.

If you're feeling a little sentimental - and who isn't - then go with David Toms.  Having played his college golf at LSU, the 2000 PGA Champion may well do something nice for his local fans.

On the C-list, you don't have a lot to work with this week.  For that reason and the fact that this event produces first time winners, I'm going to go ahead and pick up Webb Simpson for this week.  And Danny Lee.  Why not?