Shane Lowry and Brooks Koepka, two of the most recognizable names on the PGA Tour, were unable to make the cut at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, missing it by a single stroke after a promising start. Their partnership was a makeshift pairing this year: Lowry, who captured the event two years earlier alongside Rory McIlroy, found himself without his regular teammate after McIlroy chose not to play. In his place, the Irishman joined forces with five‑time major champion Brooks Koepka, hoping that the combination of Lowry’s consistency and Koepka’s power would be enough to keep them in contention.
The duo began the tournament with a solid 66 in the opening four‑ball round on Thursday, followed by a respectable 69 in the foursomes format on Friday. Those two rounds left them at nine under par after 36 holes, just one shot shy of the cut line, which was set at ten under.
Despite the strong start, a faltering third round saw them slip just beyond the qualifying mark, ending their weekend early. While Lowry and Koepka were eliminated, the Fitzpatrick brothers – Matt and Alex – were making a strong push up the leaderboard.
On Friday, the English siblings posted a blistering seven‑under‑par 65, catapulting them into a tie for second place after the first two rounds. Their momentum continued into the weekend, as they posted the lowest round of the day on Saturday, narrowing the gap to just a single stroke behind the leaders.
The American pair of Alex Smalley and Hayden Springer maintained their lead throughout the tournament. After a string of back‑to‑back birdies, they closed their Friday round with a 70, which placed them at 16 under par – a full stroke ahead of the Fitzpatrick brothers and two strokes ahead of the other leading duos. Smalley and Springer’s steady play kept them atop the leaderboard heading into the final day. Matt Fitzpatrick’s recent form has been nothing short of spectacular.
He has climbed to third in the Official World Golf Rankings after winning the Valspar Championship and then edging out world number one Scottie Scheffler in a dramatic playoff at the RBC Heritage the week before. A victory in New Orleans would add another impressive chapter to what has already been a memorable few months for the Fitzpatrick family.
Alex, meanwhile, has also been riding a wave of success, having captured his first DP World Tour title at the Hero Indian Open in March. The brothers, who hail from Sheffield, missed the cut by two strokes in the same event last year, making their current performance a clear sign of progress. Other teams tied with the Fitzpatricks for second place include Davis Thompson and Austin Eckroat, as well as Billy Horschel and Tom Hoge, all sitting at 15 under par.
English representation extends beyond the Fitzpatricks, with Aaron Rai, paired with American Sahith Theegala, sitting at 12 under, while Matt Wallace and Marco Penge trail by just one shot at 11 under. The Zurich Classic is unique on the PGA Tour as the sole team‑based event. The competition begins with two rounds of four‑ball, where each player plays his own ball and the lower score on each hole counts for the team.
The final two rounds switch to a foursomes format, requiring teammates to alternate shots with a single ball, alternating tee shots on each hole. After the first 36 holes, the top 33 teams and any ties advance to the weekend rounds. If a tie persists after 72 holes, a sudden‑death playoff determines the champion.
This year’s tournament carries added financial incentive, as the PGA Tour has increased the prize fund from $9.2 million to $9.5 million. The winning duo will split roughly 14.45 percent of the purse, translating to about $1.372 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 on offer. The champions also secure invitations to marquee events for the 2027 season, including The Players Championship and the PGA Championship, and they receive an exemption to compete in the Zurich Classic for the next two years.
While the tournament’s outcome remains undecided, the narrative of the weekend has already highlighted the unpredictable nature of team golf. Lowry and Koepka’s early exit serves as a reminder that even top‑ranked players can falter in a format that demands seamless collaboration. Conversely, the Fitzpatrick brothers’ surge illustrates how synergy and confidence can propel a team up the leaderboard, especially when both players are riding a wave of individual success.
Fans can continue to follow the action through live streams of the PGA Tour, tune into the Sky Sports Golf Podcast for expert analysis, or keep up with real‑time updates on Sky Sports’ WhatsApp channel. The Zurich Classic’s blend of individual skill and teamwork ensures that every round offers fresh drama, and with a larger purse and valuable exemptions on the line, the stakes are higher than ever for the competing pairs.