2021 Zurich Classic of New Orleans: Top 10 teams at TPC Louisiana

A couple former Oklahoma State Cowboys by way of Norway are linking up for the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

Viktor Hovland and Kristoffer Ventura were recruited at the same time and were teammates together for an elite college team that also featured Matthew Wolff.

The two friends have gone on to post good results as pros, particularly Hovland. He’s already twice a winner and was second this year at the WGC-Workday Championship. That was part of four straight top-10s early in 2021 and not long after his win at the Mayakoba Golf Classic in December.

The 23-year-old from Oslo ranks fifth on the PGA Tour in strokes gained off the tee (.765) and should have them in position A a lot. Hovland’s also fifth in birdie average (4.63).

This is the Zurich Classic of New Orleans debut for both players.

Ventura won twice on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2019 to get on the PGA Tour. He posted a couple top-10s last fall but hasn’t been able to keep the momentum in 2021. Ventura did make the cut in his last start at the Texas Open after missing his previous three. Combine that and being with a friend in Hovland, and Ventura could be back to the form we know he’s got.

After all, he was the bigger prize recruit at the time than Hovland.

Plus, Ventura can let Hovland bear the brunt of the ball striking while he rolls them in. Ventura is 10th in strokes gained putting (.706).