Shane Lowry joins forces with Brooks Koepka for the upcoming Zurich Classic of New Orleans, a distinctive team competition held at TPC Louisiana. The duo will be one of 80 two‑man squads battling for the trophy, a field that also includes last year’s champions Ben Griffin and Andrew Novak, who edged out the Danish brothers Nicolai and Rasmus Højgaard by a single stroke to claim the 2025 title.
The partnership between Lowry and Koepka follows a recent pattern of high‑profile pairings at the event. Over the past two editions, Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry have teamed up, capturing the 2024 championship after a dramatic playoff victory over Martin Trainer and Chad Ramey. Their win was celebrated in style – the pair performed a lively rendition of Journey’s "Don’t Stop Believin’" onstage, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
McIlroy explained to GOLF.com that the idea for his collaboration with Lowry was born during a "drunken lunch" after Team Europe’s triumph in Rome at the 2023 Ryder Cup. "I asked him if he wanted to play the Zurich together," McIlroy recalled.
"We were both a bit tipsy and thought, ‘Why not?’" The spontaneous decision turned into a championship run. Now, while McIlroy enjoys a brief hiatus from competition after back‑to‑back Green Jacket victories at The Masters, Lowry has found a new partner in five‑time major champion Brooks Koepka. Koepka returned to the PGA Tour in January after a four‑year stint with LIV Golf, eager to re‑establish himself in the traditional circuit.
Both players bring a wealth of experience and major‑winning pedigree to the partnership. Lowry captured The Open Championship in 2019 at Royal Portrush and has contributed to two victorious Ryder Cup teams for Europe.
Koepka, meanwhile, boasts five major titles – two U.S. Opens and three PGA Championships – and is widely regarded as one of the most formidable competitors in modern golf.
Their friendship extends beyond the fairways; the two live in close proximity in Florida and have faced each other on opposite Ryder Cup sides in the past. Together they represent a formidable pairing and are among the early favorites to lift the Zurich Classic trophy. However, the competition promises to be fiercely contested.
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 surged to No. 3 in the Official World Golf Rankings after triumphs at the Valspar Championship and a dramatic playoff victory over world No.
1 Scottie Scheffler at the RBC Heritage. Alex, riding the momentum of his maiden DP World Tour victory at the Hero Indian Open, will be eager to improve on the brothers’ missed cut in the previous edition.
Rookie Marco Penge, a long‑driver from England, will make his PGA Tour debut alongside fellow Englishman Matt Wallace. Penge’s best finish to date is a tied‑fourth at the Valspar Championship in March, indicating his potential to surprise seasoned veterans.
Aaron Rai will also return, paired with Sahith Theegala, who has already logged four top‑10 finishes on the PGA Tour this year. The Zurich Classic is unique on the PGA Tour calendar as the sole team‑based event.
The format alternates between four‑ball (best‑ball) play on the first and third rounds and foursomes (alternate‑shot) on the second and final rounds. In four‑ball, each player plays his own ball and the lower score on each hole counts for the team. In foursomes, the partners share a single ball, taking turns to hit shots and alternating tee shots on each hole; the combined strokes determine the team’s score.
After 36 holes, the field is cut to the top 33 teams and ties, who advance to the weekend rounds. Last year’s cut line sat at ten strokes under par, and notable names such as Collin Morikawa and Kurt Kitayama missed the weekend.
If teams are tied after the full 72‑hole schedule, a sudden‑death playoff will decide the champion. The stakes are high.
The tournament purse has been increased from $9.2 million to $9.5 million, with the winning pair splitting roughly 14.45 percent – about $1.372 million each. In addition to the monetary reward, each winner will receive 400 FedExCup points, though no Official World Golf Ranking points are awarded. Victorious players also earn invitations to marquee events for the 2027 season, including The Players Championship and the PGA Championship, and secure an exemption to compete in the Zurich Classic for the next two years.
Sky Sports will broadcast live coverage throughout the four‑day event. Early round action begins at 1 p.m. on Thursday on Sky Sports Golf, with full coverage kicking off at 8 p.m. The second round will start at 1:45 p.m.
on Friday, again followed by prime‑time coverage. Weekend play will be shown from 2 p.m. with full evening broadcasts at 6 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.
Concurrently, the first women’s major of the season, the Chevron Classic, will launch on Thursday on Sky Sports Main Event. With a blend of seasoned champions, rising stars, and intriguing partnerships, the Zurich Classic of New Orleans promises drama, strategy, and high‑level golf.
Keep an eye on the Lowry‑Koepka pairing as they aim to add their names to the event’s short list of past winners, and tune in to Sky Sports for comprehensive live coverage of every swing, putt, and decisive moment.