Leaders, Surprises, and Weekend Outlook
If someone had told you golf could be as unpredictable and wild as your fantasy football league, Day 2 of the Zurich Classic was the proof. After watching the leaderboard bounce around during the alternate-shot foursomes format on Friday, it’s safe to say TPC Louisiana kept everyone guessing. Pairings jostled for position, some soared, others flopped, and a few golf balls were left questioning life choices in nearby hazards.
Here’s a rundown of the action, updated odds, and what to watch for heading into Saturday.
Leaders After Day 2
Riding their Thursday momentum, Isaiah Salinda and Kevin Velo managed to stay on top with a two-day total of 17-under. After setting a tournament record with a jaw-dropping 58 on Thursday during fourballs, the duo cooled slightly with a 69 in the more punishing alternate-shot format. But don’t blame them for not repeating yesterday’s absurd feat. Shooting three birdies in four straight holes during their back nine on Friday gave this duo just enough spice to maintain the solo lead.
Right on their tails are Andrew Novak and Ben Griffin at 16-under. Novak must have found a rabbit’s foot or some lucky socks because he’s been riding a career-high performance wave lately, coming off a runner-up finish at the RBC Heritage.
Sitting in third are the Højgaard twins, Rasmus and Nicolai, at 15-under. They may not have hit the high notes on Friday, but their ball striking is dialed in, and if they can coax some putts into the hole on Saturday, watch out.
Who’s Trending (and Who’s Tanking)
Honorable mentions: Jacob Bridgeman and Chandler Phillips are holding steady in fourth at 14-under. Beneath them, at T5, lies a three-way tie featuring Ryo Hisatsune and Takumi Kanaya. Meanwhile, a cluster of teams, including the Canadian duo of Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin, heads into Moving Day at 12-under.
Now for the drama.
Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry, last year’s champions and fan-favorites (thanks to talent and a combo of Irish charm), looked like they were cooking with gas on Friday. They started with a sizzling eagle on the second hole, supported by McIlroy’s monster drives and Lowry’s precise iron work. By the 12th hole, they were at 6-under for the day and dangerously close to the top…until disaster struck. Bogeys on the 13th, 17th, and 18th killed the vibe faster than a shanked drive on #1 at Pebble. They’re now 11-under, tied for 17th, and will need a big weekend surge.
On the struggle bus: Collin Morikawa and Kurt Kitayama. The pair came into Friday as contenders after a 61 on Thursday, only to flame out spectacularly with a second-round 75. Kitayama’s driver had other plans, including an invite to two water hazards, and suddenly, their short-lived Zurich Classic adventure was over. Missing the cut stings, but hey, golf giveth and golf taketh away.
Speaking of notable exits, Wyndham Clark and Taylor Moore joined Morikawa and Kitayama in saying goodbye, unable to survive the 10-under cut line. Not a round to remember for these guys.
Format Matters: Navigating Foursomes
The alternate-shot foursome format rarely offers any freebies. Hitting your own ball is hard enough, but playing from your partner’s choices? That’s when patience and teamwork are tested. Some partnerships, like Salinda and Velo, have found a groove. Others, like Morikawa and Kitayama, unraveled under the strain. It’s why Friday’s leaderboard didn’t see runaway performances, and most teams hovered around par.
Saturday will flip the script, returning to the fourball format that birthed those crazy-low rounds in the 50s. Expect aggressive play and a barrage of birdie attempts from everyone still in contention. After all, fourballs are where scoring runs are made…provided players avoid the swampy parts of Louisiana.
Updated Betting Odds
With things heating up, here’s how the odds stack up heading into Saturday:
- Andrew Novak & Ben Griffin at 13-5 emerge as solid favorites after Friday’s showing.
- Isaiah Salinda & Kevin Velo aren’t far behind at 11-2, though their alternate-shot consistency may have given bettors pause.
- The Højgaard twins come in with 9-2 odds, sitting in third and brimming with potential.
- Rory McIlroy & Shane Lowry still hover at 13-2 in case of a weekend miracle.
Keep an eye on longshots like Rasmus Hisatsune & Takumi Kanaya, sitting at 20-1.
The volatility of the team format means even pairs sitting farther back could come alive and provide value for bettors.
Moving Day Preview and Players to Watch
With fourballs returning on Saturday, expect fireworks on the leaderboard. Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry will be desperate to post something in the high teens (or better) to claw their way back into contention. They’ve done it before, and they’ll bank on a fast start.
The twin dynamos, Rasmus and Nicolai Højgaard, seem ready to make noise too. Their ball striking has been on point, and if they shake off a few Friday putts that lipped out, they could be unstoppable.
Don’t discount Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin, who have quietly impressed over two rounds. The Canadians shot a 66 on Friday, proving they’re contenders in any format.
Dark horses to watch: Aaron Rai and Sahith Theegala. Sitting at 12-under and showing flashes of brilliance, they could light up the course this weekend.
The battle for the Zurich Classic champion title promises thrills, heartbreak, and maybe a few accidental “fore!” yells from fans after too many drinks in the hospitality tent. With Saturday’s looser format, jockeying for position will only intensify as teams hunt birdies. Buckle up for Moving Day––if the first two rounds were anything to go by, it’s going to be a rollercoaster.
