Koepka Teams Up with Lowry for This Week's Zurich Classic: What to Expect

Shane Lowry is set to join forces with Brooks Koepka for the upcoming Zurich Classic of New Orleans, a PGA Tour team competition held at TPC Louisiana. The duo will be one of 80 pairs battling for the trophy, joining the defending champions Ben Griffin and Andrew Novak, who reclaimed the title in 2025 after edging out Nicolai and Rasmus Højgaard by a single stroke. The Zurich Classic has become a showcase for some of golf's most intriguing partnerships. In recent years, Rory McIlroy and Lowry have teamed up, capturing the 2024 edition after a dramatic playoff against Martin Trainer and Chad Ramey.

Their victory was celebrated in style, as the pair performed a rousing rendition of Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" on stage, much to the delight of the crowd. McIlroy explained to GOLF.com that the partnership was born after a "drunken lunch" following Team Europe’s triumph in Rome during the 2023 Ryder Cup. "I asked him if he wanted to play the Zurich together," McIlroy recalled. "We were both a bit tipsy, but we thought, ‘why not?’ and the idea stuck." While McIlroy now enjoys a brief hiatus from competitive play after securing back‑to‑back green jackets at the Masters, Lowry is turning his attention to a new partnership with five‑time major champion Brooks Koepka.

Koepka returned to the PGA Tour in January after a four‑year stint with LIV Golf, and the pairing is especially compelling because the two have faced each other on opposite Ryder Cup teams in the past. Despite that rivalry, they have forged a close friendship and even share a home base in Florida, making their collaboration feel natural.

Both players bring an impressive résumé to the table. Lowry captured The Open Championship in 2019 at Royal Portrush and has been a key member of two Ryder Cup‑winning European squads.

Koepka, meanwhile, boasts five major titles—including two U.S. Opens and three PGA Championships—and a reputation for thriving under pressure. Combined, they hold six major victories and a wealth of experience on golf's biggest stages, positioning them among the favorites to lift the Zurich Classic trophy.

The competition, however, will be fierce. Fresh off his second PGA Tour win of the season, Matt Fitzpatrick will reunite with his younger brother Alex Fitzpatrick for the event. Matt has climbed to No. 3 in the Official World Golf Rankings after triumphs at the Valspar Championship and the RBC Heritage, where he defeated world No.

1 Scottie Scheffler in a playoff. Alex, riding the momentum of his maiden DP World Tour victory at the Hero Indian Open, will be eager to improve on last year’s missed cut.

Rookie Marco Penge, a long‑driver from England, will make his Zurich Classic debut alongside fellow Brit Matt Wallace. Penge’s best finish on the PGA Tour so far is a tied‑fourth at the Valspar Championship, indicating his game is beginning to translate to American courses.

Aaron Rai will also return to the field, paired with Sahith Theegala, who has already logged four top‑10 finishes this season. The Zurich Classic is unique on the PGA Tour calendar as the sole team‑based event.

The format alternates between four‑ball and foursomes. In the first and third rounds, each player plays his own ball and the lower score on each hole counts for the team (four‑ball).

The second and final rounds switch to foursomes, where teammates alternate shots with a single ball, including alternating tee shots on each hole. After 36 holes, the top 33 teams and ties make the cut for the weekend.

Last year the cut line sat at ten strokes under par, and notable names such as Collin Morikawa and Kurt Kitayama missed out. If a tie remains after the final round, a sudden‑death playoff will decide the champion.

The prize purse has been increased this year from $9.2 million to $9.5 million, with the winning pair sharing roughly 14.45 percent—about $1.372 million each. In addition to the cash, each winner receives 400 FedExCup points, though no Official World Golf Ranking points are awarded. The victorious team also earns invitations to marquee events for the 2027 season, including the Players Championship and the PGA Championship, and enjoys an exemption to compete in the Zurich Classic for the next two years. Sky Sports will broadcast the tournament live across all four days.

Early‑round coverage begins at 1 pm on Sky Sports Golf on Thursday, with full coverage rolling out at 8 pm. Friday’s second round starts at 1:45 pm, again with comprehensive coverage from 8 pm.

Weekend action will be shown from 2 pm, with prime‑time full coverage commencing at 6 pm on both Saturday and Sunday. The event runs alongside the first women’s major of the year, the Chevron Classic, which will air on Sky Sports Main Event. As the field assembles and the format shifts from four‑ball to foursomes, fans can expect strategic intrigue, dramatic swings, and plenty of camaraderie.

Whether Koepka and Lowry’s friendship translates into on‑course chemistry, or whether a surprise duo like the Fitzpatrick brothers or the Penge‑Wallace pair upsets the odds, the Zurich Classic promises an exciting week of golf. Tune in to Sky Sports for live coverage and watch the drama unfold as the teams vie for a coveted spot in golf history.