Shane Lowry and Brooks Koepka, two of the most recognizable names on the PGA Tour, were unable to survive the cut at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, missing it by a single stroke after a promising start. Their early‑round performance had raised hopes, but the duo ultimately bowed out before the weekend, leaving the field open for other contenders. Lowry entered the event as a former champion, having captured the Zurich Classic title two years earlier when he teamed with Rory McIlroy. This year, however, McIlroy was absent, prompting Lowry to partner with the five‑time major winner Brooks Koepka.
The pair began with a solid 66 in the Thursday four‑ball round, followed by a respectable 69 in the Friday foursomes, which placed them at nine under par after the halfway point. Unfortunately, the cut line sat at ten under, leaving them just one shot short of advancing. Meanwhile, the Fitzpatrick brothers – Matt and his younger sibling Alex – were making a strong push up the leaderboard.
On Friday they posted a seven‑under 65, catapulting them into a share of second place after the first 36 holes. Their momentum continued as they posted the lowest round of the day in the subsequent foursomes, narrowing the gap to just a single stroke behind the leaders heading into Saturday. American teammates Alex Smalley and Hayden Springer maintained their grip on the top of the standings, closing their round with a string of birdies that resulted in a 70 and a total of 16 under par. This gave them a one‑stroke cushion over the Fitzpatrick brothers and a two‑stroke lead over the next pair of teams.
The competition was tight, with Davis Thompson and Austin Eckroat, as well as Billy Horschel and Tom Hoge, all tied for second at 15 under. The Fitzpatrick brothers’ campaign carried extra significance. Matt, who recently vaulted to third in the Official World Golf Rankings after winning the Valspar Championship and then the RBC Heritage – where he defeated world number one Scottie Scheffler in a dramatic playoff – was looking to cap a remarkable few months with a team victory.
Alex, meanwhile, had broken through earlier in the season by securing his first DP World Tour title at the Hero Indian Open in March. The brothers had attempted the Zurich Classic the previous year but fell short, missing the cut by two strokes. English interest was also present, with Aaron Rai teaming up with American Sahith Theegala and sitting at 12 under, while compatriots Matt Wallace and Marco Penge were just one shot behind at 11 under.
The Zurich Classic remains the sole team‑based tournament on the PGA Tour schedule. The format alternates between four‑ball play in the first and third rounds – where each player hits their own ball and the lower score on each hole counts for the team – and foursomes in the second and final rounds, where teammates share a single ball and alternate shots. After 36 holes, the top 33 teams (including ties) move on to the weekend competition. If a tie persists after the full 72 holes, a sudden‑death playoff determines the champion.
This year’s event featured a slightly larger purse, increased by the tour’s leadership from $9.2 million to $9.5 million. The winning duo will split roughly 14.45 percent of that total, 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 triumph also grants the winners invitations to several marquee tournaments in the 2027 season, including The Players Championship and the PGA Championship, as well as an exemption to compete in the Zurich Classic for the next two years. While Lowry and Koepka’s early exit was disappointing for fans hoping to see a repeat of Lowry’s previous success, the tournament’s narrative shifted to the impressive form of the Fitzpatrick brothers and the tightly contested leaderboard. Their surge, combined with strong performances from the American pair of Smalley and Springer, set the stage for an exciting final round that promised to deliver a dramatic conclusion to the PGA Tour’s only team‑event format.
Overall, the Zurich Classic showcased the depth of talent across both sides of the Atlantic, highlighted the strategic nuances of alternating formats, and underscored how a single stroke can separate triumph from disappointment in professional golf.