2022 Zurich Classic of New Orleans: Top 10 Power Rankings

Sam Burns and Billy Horschel are proof that two SEC rivals can come together for the right cause.

Former LSU Tiger Burns and former Florida Gator Horschel first joined forces at the 2021 Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Burns, a Louisiana native, played well in his home state as he and Horschel posted 63-65 in best ball and 73-69 in alternate shot to finish T-4th and two shots out of a playoff.

Burns felt the hometown love.

“We heard tons of “Geaux Tigers.” That was cool for me,” Burns was transcribed by ASAP Sports in 2021. “Just being 45 to an hour from where I went to school, it’s always cool, and I enjoy coming back and playing here and seeing friends and family. So it’s really fun for me.”

They reunited later in the year to contend at the QBE Shootout. They finished in second place and just one shot back in the 12-man exhibition tournament in December.

Horschel won the 2018 Zurich Classic with Scott Piercy.

They defended their title in 2019 with a T-13th.

Burns recently cracked the top 10 in the world after clinching his third career PGA Tour win at the Valspar Championship, all of which came in a 10-month span. He disappointed at the Masters with a missed cut, but taking last week off should get him back on track.

Horschel is also nearly as high as he’s been in the Official World Golf Ranking. A T-21st last week at the RBC Heritage was his third made cut in a row and sixth top-25 in his last eight starts.

The 25-year-old Burns is solid throughout the bag, but his iron play has been much better than Horschel’s this season on the PGA Tour. Burns is 10th in strokes gained approach (.724) and can also roll the rock, particularly on Bermuda grass like we’ll see this week. He’s 32nd in SG putting (.385).

The 35-year-old Horschel will pull his weight with accuracy off the tee, putting, and experience with team formats. He’s 19th in driving accuracy (67.54%) and 10th in SG putting (.697).