The Fitzpatrick brothers, Alex and Matt, entered the final day of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans with a commanding four‑stroke advantage after delivering a historic better‑ball round of 57, the lowest ever recorded in the tournament. Their 15‑under‑par performance lifted the duo to a total of 30 under par, vaulting them ahead of the previous leaders, Alex Smalley and Hayden Springer, who had posted a 61, as well as fellow American teammates Davis Thompson and Austin Eckroat. During the third round at TPC Louisiana, the English pair combined for an impressive 13 birdies, eight of which came on the back nine.
Matt also added an eagle on the par‑five seventh hole, further extending their lead. "Amazing day. It probably hasn't fully sunk in how well we played," Matt Fitzpatrick remarked, noting the consistency of hole‑after‑hole excellence. He praised his older brother, saying, "He played brilliant golf both last two days.
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 it was great to see him make such a big impact on the back nine." If the brothers can convert their lead into a victory, Matt would notch his fifth PGA Tour title and become the first player in more than two years to win back‑to‑back events, a feat last achieved 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 invitations to the next four signature events, the 2026 PGA Championship and the 2027 Players Championship.
The competition behind them remained fierce. Smalley and Springer, who had tied the course record with a 58 in better‑ball play on Thursday, posted a 62 on Saturday and fell into a tie for second place with Thompson and Eckroat. Doug Ghim and Jeffrey Kang recorded a 61 to sit in fourth, five strokes off the lead.
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 shots behind the leaders. Veteran Billy Horschel, the only player to have won the Zurich Classic both as an individual and as part of a team, paired with Tom Hoge for a 64, putting them seven strokes back. Sunday's final round will shift to the alternate‑shot (foursomes) format, where teammates share a single ball and take turns hitting shots. The top 33 teams and ties after the first two rounds will advance to the weekend, and any tie after 72 holes will be settled by a sudden‑death playoff.
The Zurich Classic is unique on the PGA Tour as the sole team‑based event. The first and third rounds use a four‑ball format, where each player plays his own ball and the lower score on each hole counts for the team. The second and final rounds employ the foursomes format, requiring players to alternate shots with one ball, including alternating tee shots.
This structure tests both individual skill and partnership chemistry. This year the tournament's purse has been increased from $9.2 million to $9.5 million, reflecting the PGA Tour's commitment to rewarding team competition. The winning pair will split roughly 14.45 percent of the total purse, estimated at about $1.372 million each.
In addition to the monetary reward, each champion will earn 400 FedExCup points, though no Official World Golf Ranking points are awarded for the event. The victory also grants the duo entry into several marquee tournaments for the 2027 season, including the Players Championship and the PGA Championship, as well as a two‑year exemption to return to the Zurich Classic. Beyond the immediate stakes, the Fitzpatrick brothers' performance underscores a broader narrative in professional golf: the rise of sibling partnerships and the increasing emphasis on collaborative formats. Their synergy on the course, highlighted by seamless communication and complementary skill sets, has turned heads across the tour.
Alex, known for his steady ball‑striking and strategic course management, pairs well with Matt's aggressive play and ability to capitalize on scoring opportunities, such as his eagle on the seventh hole. The brothers' success also shines a spotlight on the growing popularity of the better‑ball format, which rewards risk‑taking while providing a safety net through the partner's score. Their 57‑stroke round, featuring 13 birdies and an eagle, demonstrates how a well‑balanced partnership can produce extraordinary results when both players are in peak form.
Fans can follow the action live via Sky Sports, which offers a dedicated golf podcast and streaming options without a contract. The tournament's schedule, leaderboards, and additional content are regularly updated on the PGA Tour's official platforms.
As the final round approaches, anticipation builds for whether the Fitzpatrick brothers can maintain their momentum and claim the title, adding another chapter to their family’s golfing legacy.