Alex Smalley and Hayden Springer posted 16-under-par at TPC Louisiana to set the pace at the halfway point of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. On Thursday, the duo matched the tournament record of 58 in Four-ball and returned on Friday, adding a round of 2-under-par 70 in the alternate shot format.

Moving Day in The Big Easy will feature 35 teams within six shots of the lead pair, including pre-tournament co-favorites Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick. The brothers washed away the disappointment of an opening round 64 with the best round of the day, 65, in Foursomes (alternate shot). Joining the Englishmen, one shot back of the leaders, is the team of Billy Horschel and Tom Hoge, plus Davis Thompson and Austin Eckroat.

The second best ball round awaits Saturday and will be followed by the alternate shot format on Sunday to determine the champions.

The tournament cannot be won during the shootout on Saturday, but it can be lost. With thunderstorms pushing tee times earlier in the morning, TPC Louisiana should be receptive for another round of low scores. It is time to put the pedal to the metal and rack up as many par-breakers as possible to mitigate the pitfalls that come with the alternate shot format on Sunday.

Billy Horschel and Tom Hoge – Under 63.5 (+120)

Horschel, the only player in history to win this event on his own ball and in the team format, has plenty of experience stalking the lead. Beginning one shot behind the leaders, Horschel and Hoge, both PGA TOUR winners, will look to back up their 61 Thursday with another low one Saturday. Their bogey-free round of 61 in Round 1 was not perfect. The duo parred both par-5 holes on the inward nine but still circled nine birdies and an eagle. In Friday’s alternate shot round, they circled seven more birdies, taking their total to 17 par-breakers in 36 holes.

Horschel, who is making his 14th appearance in New Orleans, knows this routing inside and out. Hoge, making his 10th start, is hardly a neophyte. These veterans know when to step on the accelerator, tap the breaks, and should not fall into the temptations that Pete Dye’s track provides.

Davis Thompson and Austin Eckroat – To Win (+660)

Let’s gamble.

If this pair follows up their 59 from Friday with another low one, this number will not be in play on Saturday night.

Thompson, who owns career best ball scores of 59, 62, 63 and 68 at TPC Louisiana, is in his element. His only victory on the PGA TOUR came at the John Deere Classic, another shootout, where he posted rounds of 62-64, plus a round of 63 all on his own ball to win by four shots.

Eckroat, twice a winner on TOUR in the 2024 season, also proved his ability to go low. He needed to get to 24-under to win the World Wide Technology Championship in Mexico and did so, closing with 63.

Together, they posted 70 (-2) on Friday and did not throw away their excellent work from Round 1. Both men are coming off top-15 paydays at the Valero Texas Open in their previous starts and can handle lengthy, windy tracks. Their winning experience should be noted, especially with the teams sitting in the top 15 after two rounds. Of the 14 teams within three shots of the leaders, TEN teams have at least one player who has not tasted victory on the PGA TOUR. The pressure of performing on the weekend is real!

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