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Zurich Classic of New Orleans: Top 10 power rankings for TPC Louisiana

By Mike Randleman

AVONDALE, LA - APRIL 29: A general view of the 17th green during the final round of the Zurich Classic at TPC Louisiana on April 29, 2018 in Avondale, Louisiana. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
AVONDALE, LA - APRIL 29: A general view of the 17th green during the final round of the Zurich Classic at TPC Louisiana on April 29, 2018 in Avondale, Louisiana. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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AUGUSTA, GEORGIA – APRIL 09: Justin Harding and Branden Grace of South Africa walk during a practice round prior to the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 09, 2019 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA – APRIL 09: Justin Harding and Branden Grace of South Africa walk during a practice round prior to the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 09, 2019 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

South Africans like to stick together at this event with this Grace/Harding pairing no different.

Grace is the more proven of the two, but Harding’s recent form puts them on similar planes.

Grace has won nine times on the European Tour since 2012. He’s No. 46 in the world and is having a solid year on the PGA Tour. In 2019, Grace was in the hunt at the Phoenix Open where he settled for solo second.

He also made it to the knockout rounds at the WGC-Match Play and made the cut in his last two starts at the Masters and RBC Heritage. Grace finished T24 with Louis Oosthuizen in 2017 in his only Zurich Classic appearance.

World No. 45 Justin Harding is making his tournament debut.

He toiled primarily playing on African tours from 2012 to 2018 before working his way into European Tour membership for 2019. The 33-year-old proved he wasn’t a fluke by winning the Qatar Masters in March.

Harding is up to four worldwide top-10s as well as a T12 at the Masters, which earned him an invite back for 2020. Harding fired a 69 to take the morning lead there and grab attention on  Thursday. He followed with 69-70-72 for an impressive tournament debut in just his third major.

Harding has been well rounded this year, ranking on the European Tour 44th in strokes gained putting, fifth SG around the green and 21st SG tee to green.

Grace’s stats aren’t particularly strong, but he has a good short game when called upon and knows how to close out a tournament. He’s eager by now to finally win in the U.S.

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