Shane Lowry and Brooks Koepka, two of the most recognizable names on the PGA Tour, saw their hopes of advancing at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans evaporate by a single stroke, missing the cut after the first two rounds. Their partnership was a result of unusual circumstances: Lowry, who captured the Zurich Classic title two years earlier alongside Rory McIlroy, was forced to find a new teammate after McIlroy opted out of this year's event.
The solution was a pairing with five‑time major champion Brooks Koepka, a player who, like Lowry, was eager to make a deep run in the team format. The duo got off to a promising start, carding a 66 in the opening four‑ball round on Thursday.
The format allowed each player to play his own ball, with the better score on each hole counting toward the team total. Their aggressive play and solid iron work produced a low‑scoring round that put them in a strong position. On Friday, they continued with a 69 in the foursomes, a more demanding format where the partners alternate shots with a single ball.
After 36 holes, Lowry and Koepka were sitting nine under par, just one shot away from the cut line that required a ten‑under total to continue into the weekend. Meanwhile, the English brothers Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick were making a statement of their own. On Friday they posted a blistering seven‑under 65, propelling them into a shared second‑place position after the first two rounds. Their performance was bolstered by the American pairing of Alex Smalley and Hayden Springer, who maintained the lead with a steady 70 that left them at 16 under par, a full stroke ahead of the Fitzpatrick brothers and two other teams.
Going into the third round, the Fitzpatrick brothers trailed the leaders by six strokes, but they responded with the lowest round of the day, narrowing the gap to a single shot as they headed into the final round on Saturday. A victory in New Orleans would be a fitting climax to an extraordinary few months for the Fitzpatricks. Matt Fitzpatrick has surged to third in the Official World Golf Rankings after winning the Valspar Championship and then clinching the RBC Heritage in a dramatic playoff against world number one Scottie Scheffler. His younger sibling, Alex, has also been on an upward trajectory, capturing his first DP World Tour title at the Hero Indian Open in March and building a reputation as a consistent performer on both sides of the Atlantic.
The leaderboard after 36 holes featured a tightly packed field. Tied with the Fitzpatricks for second place were Davis Thompson and Austin Eckroat, as well as Billy Horschel and Tom Hoge, all sitting at 15 under par. Englishman Aaron Rai, paired with American Sahith Theegala, was positioned at 12 under, while fellow English players Matt Wallace and Marco Penge were just one shot behind at 11 under.
The Zurich Classic remains the only team‑based event on the PGA Tour schedule. Its unique structure combines four‑ball play in the first and third rounds with foursomes in the second and final rounds. In four‑ball, each golfer plays his own ball and the lower score on each hole counts, encouraging aggressive shot‑making.
In foursomes, teammates alternate shots using a single ball, demanding precise coordination and strategic tee‑shot selection. After the initial 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 determines the champion. This year the tournament carries even more weight financially.
The prize fund has been increased from $9.2 million to $9.5 million, with the winning duo slated to split roughly 14.45 percent of the total purse—about $1.372 million each. In addition to the monetary reward, the victors each earn 400 FedExCup points, though no Official World Golf Ranking points are awarded. The triumph also grants the winners invitations to marquee events for the 2027 season, including The Players Championship and the PGA Championship, as well as an exemption to return to the Zurich Classic for the next two years.
While Lowry and Koepka's early exit was disappointing for their fans, the tournament continues to showcase the depth of talent on tour and the excitement that a team format can generate. The Fitzpatrick brothers, buoyed by recent successes and a strong showing at the Zurich Classic, remain in prime position to contend for the title over the weekend. Their performance, alongside the steady play of Smalley and Springer, promises a thrilling conclusion to a week that has already delivered drama, high‑stakes competition, and a reminder of why team events hold a special place in professional golf.