2022 Zurich Classic of New Orleans: Top 10 Power Rankings

Some Zurich Classic of New Orleans pairings can be formulated at random, but others out of friendship. Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele are part of the latter.

The Californians are equally calm and stoic, so there may not be a ton of chatter between them, but their similar vibes can mesh well together.

This is their second time together at TPC Louisiana. They tied for the low round of the day in Sunday alternate shot last year with a 67, but opening with 64 and 68 in best ball and a 74 in alternate shot was too much damage as they went on to finish T-11th.

They also linked up representing the red, white and blue at the 2019 Presidents Cup where they went 2-2-0 at Royal Melbourne, and again at the 2021 Ryder Cup where they went 2-0-0.

The two foursomes matches together last year at Whistling Straits resulted in a 5&3 win over Rory McIlroy and Ian Poulter and a 2&1 win over Lee Westwood and Matt Fitzpatrick.

“We do enjoy having a game every week, it’s very competitive, and we feel like when we play against each other it sort of sharpens ourselves for the best week possible,” Schauffele was quoted in a March 2021 Golfweek article by Adam Schupak.

Cantlay nearly won for the second time this season last week.

He fired 66-67-70-68 at the RBC Heritage and nearly won in regulation when a 15-footer for birdie on the 18th hole just rolled by. In a playoff with Jordan Spieth, both hit their approach shots in the bunker, but a fried egg lie doomed Cantlay while Spieth knocked it close for an easy winning par.

It was Cantlay’s fifth top-10 in 2022 alone.

Schauffele took last week off, so he may be called upon to provide some energy. He’s looking to bounce back from a missed cut at the Masters. It was X’s second missed cut since May 2021.

Cantlay played the Zurich in 2018 and 2019 with Patrick Reed, finishing T-7th and missing the cut, respectively. Schauffele’s tournament debut came last year.

Both have solid all-around games that make them a threat this week. Both are 63rd or better on the PGA Tour in all strokes gained categories. Cantlay is seventh in total SG (1.566) and Schauffele 17th (1.282).