The English duo of Alex and Matt Fitzpatrick entered the final day of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans with a commanding four‑stroke advantage after posting an unprecedented 57 in the better‑ball third round – a score that set a new tournament record. Their 15‑under‑par performance lifted the pair to a total of 30 under par, propelling them past the overnight leaders, Alex Smalley and Hayden Springer, who had carded a 61, as well as fellow Americans Davis Thompson and Austin Eckroat. At TPC Louisiana the brothers combined for an astonishing 13 birdies, eight of which came on the back nine alone, and Matt capped the round with an eagle on the par‑five seventh hole.
"Amazing day. Probably not kind of sunk in how well we played today, if I'm honest," Matt said, reflecting on the relentless string of birdies.
He added, "He played brilliant golf both last two days," praising Alex, who had just captured the Indian Open a month earlier. "His game has really turned a corner these last few months, and I believe in him to continue that trend. He's doing all the right things and obviously it was nice for him to have such a big impact there on the back nine." If the Fitzpatrick brothers can close out the tournament, Matt would notch his fifth PGA Tour victory and become the first player in more than two years to win back‑to‑back events, a feat last accomplished by Scottie Scheffler when he captured the 2024 Masters and the 2024 RBC Heritage.
Alex would also secure a two‑year PGA Tour exemption through 2028, along with automatic entries into the next four signature events, the 2026 PGA Championship and the 2027 Players Championship. Meanwhile, the previous leaders Alex Smalley and Hayden Springer, who had tied a course record with a 58 in better‑ball on Thursday, fell to a tie for second after posting a 62, sharing the spot with Davis Thompson and Austin Eckroat. Doug Ghim and Jeffrey Kang recorded 61s to move into fourth place, five shots behind the leaders. Zach Bauchou made the tournament's first hole‑in‑one since 2024 on the par‑three third hole; he and partner Sam Stevens finished with a 64, eight strokes back.
Veteran Billy Horschel, the only player to win the Zurich Classic both as an individual and as part of a team, shot a 64 with Tom Hoge, leaving them seven shots off the lead. The final round on Sunday will shift to the alternate‑shot (foursomes) format, where teammates share a single ball and take turns hitting shots. This change tests chemistry and strategy, as players must decide who tees off on odd versus even holes and manage the rhythm of alternating strokes throughout the round.
The Zurich Classic remains the PGA Tour's sole team‑oriented event. The first and third rounds employ a four‑ball format, allowing each golfer to play their own ball and counting the lower score on each hole for the team. The second and fourth rounds switch to foursomes, where the combined total of alternating shots determines the team's score. After 36 holes, the top 33 teams and any ties advance to the weekend competition.
If a tie persists after 72 holes, a sudden‑death playoff will decide the champions. Financial stakes are high this year. Tour officials have increased the purse from $9.2 million (£6.83 million) to $9.5 million (£7.05 million).
The winning pair will split roughly 14.45 percent of the total, translating to about $1.372 million (£1.02 million) each. In addition to the monetary reward, each player on the victorious team will earn 400 FedExCup points, though no Official World Golf Ranking points are awarded for the event.
Beyond the immediate prize, the champions gain valuable exemptions: entry into several marquee tournaments for the 2027 season, including the Players Championship and the PGA Championship, plus a two‑year exemption to return to the Zurich Classic. These benefits provide both financial security and opportunities to compete on golf's biggest stages.
The Zurich Classic's unique format and elevated purse have drawn considerable attention from fans and media alike. Sky Sports, for instance, offers live coverage, podcasts, and a dedicated WhatsApp channel for updates, while the PGA Tour streams the event without requiring a contract.
The tournament also highlights the growing popularity of team play on a tour traditionally dominated by individual competition. In summary, the Fitzpatrick brothers sit atop the leaderboard with a four‑stroke cushion after a historic 57‑stroke better‑ball round, while their rivals scramble to close the gap ahead of Sunday's alternate‑shot showdown. With substantial prize money, FedExCup points, and future tournament exemptions on the line, the final round promises high drama and a potential historic victory for the English siblings.