Zurich Classic: A preview and best bets for this week's PGA Tour event in New Orleans

The PGA Tour pitches up in New Orleans this week as Billy Horschel attempts to defend the Zurich Classic.

This event has been a happy hunting ground for those trying to land their first victory and, last year, Horschel became the sixth player in the last nine runnings to make it the scene of their debut win.  

Horschel also added to another recent trend as he became the eighth American in the last 10 years to win the event. The previous two - Jason Dufner (2012) and Bubba Watson (2011) - later went on to become major winners.

Dufner and Watson, who aren't in the field this week, both took the title in a play-off while nine of the past 11 have been decided by either a single shot or extra holes so it suggests we're in for a tight finish. 

Justin Rose, who is coming off a tied 14th place in The Masters, heads the betting.

The course

TPC Louisiana is a low-lying Pete Dye creation built among wetlands and swamps close to the Mississippi River. There is plenty of water to avoid, while the Bermudagrass greens are traditionally fast. Par is 72 and the course measures 7,399 yards. Over 100 bunkers on the course make this a strategic test.

Winning scores

Billy Horschel's winning score of 20-under in 2013 was the lowest ever posted at TPC Louisiana. The previous five were -19 (Jason Dufner, 2012), -15 (Bubba Watson, 2011), -18 (Jason Bohn, 2010), -14 (Jerry Kelly, 2009) and -13 (Andres Romero, 2008). The lowest score shot there is an eight-under 64, a mark achieved by Kyle Reifers (R1, 2007), Troy Matteson (R2, 2009), Dean Wilson (R2, 2011), Greg Chalmers (R2, 2012), Russell Knox (R2, 2012), Ryan Palmer (R3, 2012) and Billy Horschel (R4, 2013).

The leading contenders (and Sky Bet odds)

Justin Rose (12/1): The Englishman never really got in a blow at Augusta, middle rounds of 70-69 repairing the mess caused by an opening 76 before the engine spluttered again in a final round 74. A tied 14th wasn't bad though and could give him something to build on. This is his sixth straight start at TPC Louisiana and his best results have come in the last two years - a 10th in 2012 and a 15th last year. 

Rickie Fowler (18/1): A strong Masters gave Fowler his best ever finish of tied fifth at Augusta and it could have been even better but for a momentum-killing three-putt at the second on Sunday which turned a birdiie to a bogey. It followed on from a sixth place in Houston so the work he's done with Butch Harmon really appears to be paying off. Fowler, who topped the Scrambling stats at Augusta, has finished 32nd, 10th and 26th in his three starts in this event.

Keegan Bradley (20/1): Rounds of 75-78 in The Masters saw Bradley slamming his trunk early at Augusta but just two starts earlier he'd finished second at Bay Hill. The 2011 US PGA winner has had four other top 20s in 2014 but, in general, won't be satisfied with his campaign. He doesn't leap off the page at this venue as he's missed the cut in each of the last two years. His best was a tied 26th on debut in 2011.  

Graham DeLaet (20/1): Some had the Canadian down as a dark horse for The Masters but that idea was ruined when he shot an opening 80. He did recover with a second round 72 to suggest nothing too much was wrong beyond debutant's nerves. Before that DeLaet was 19th in Houston and eighth in the Valspar and a fourth place here in 2012 suggests