The sibling pair of Alex and Matt Fitzpatrick surged into a commanding four‑stroke lead as they approached the final day of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, thanks to an astonishing better‑ball third round of 57 – a score that set a new tournament benchmark. Their 15‑under‑par round lifted the English brothers to a cumulative 30 under par, vaulting them past the overnight leaders Alex Smalley and Hayden Springer, who had posted a 61, as well as fellow American teammates Davis Thompson and Austin Eckroat. At TPC Louisiana, the Fitzpatricks combined for a remarkable 13 birdies, eight of which arrived on the back nine.
Matt also added an eagle on the par‑five seventh hole, further extending their margin. The performance was so dominant that it left spectators and commentators alike in awe of the brothers' synergy and individual skill. "Amazing day.
Probably not kind of sunk in how well we played today, if I'm honest," Matt Fitzpatrick admitted after the round. "It was just hole after hole." Alex praised his younger brother, noting the rapid improvement in Matt's game over recent months.
"He played brilliant golf both last two days," Alex said, referencing Matt's recent victory at the Indian Open. "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 obviously it was nice for him to have such a big impact there on the back nine." Should the pair capture the title, Matt would notch his fifth PGA Tour win and become the first player in more than two years to claim back‑to‑back victories on the Tour, a feat last achieved by Scottie Scheffler when he won the 2024 Masters and the 2024 RBC Heritage.
In addition, Alex would secure a two‑year PGA Tour exemption through 2028, along with automatic entries into the next four signature events, the 2026 PGA Championship and the 2027 Players Championship. Meanwhile, the competition remains fierce. Alex Smalley and Hayden Springer, who had tied the course record with a 58 in better‑ball play on Thursday—a record that held for 48 hours—shot a 62 on Saturday and fell into a tie for second place alongside Davis Thompson and Austin Eckroat. Doug Ghim and Jeffrey Kang posted a 61 to move into fourth, five strokes behind the leaders.
Zach Bauchou made history with 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 back.
Veteran Billy Horschel, the only player to have won the Zurich Classic both as an individual and as part of a team, recorded a 64 with partner Tom Hoge, leaving them seven strokes behind the Fitzpatrick duo. The final round on Sunday will see the format shift from four‑ball to alternate‑shot (foursomes), where each team plays a single ball and players take turns hitting shots. This change often tests the chemistry and strategic coordination of the pair, making the lead both an advantage and a challenge to protect. 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, allowing each golfer to play their own ball with the lower score on each hole counting for the team. The second and fourth rounds adopt the foursomes format, requiring players to alternate shots from tee to green, with the total strokes determining the team's hole score.
After 36 holes, the top 33 teams and ties advance to the weekend competition. If a tie persists after 72 holes, a sudden‑death playoff will decide the champion. This year, the stakes are higher than ever. Tour officials have increased the prize purse from $9.2 million (£6.83 million) to $9.5 million (£7.05 million).
The winning duo will split roughly 14.45 percent of the total purse—approximately $1.372 million (£1.02 million) each. In addition to the financial reward, each player on the victorious team will earn 400 FedExCup points, though no Official World Golf Ranking points are awarded for the event. Beyond the immediate rewards, the champions will gain entry into several marquee tournaments for the 2027 season, including the Players Championship and the PGA Championship.
They will also receive an exemption that guarantees their participation in the Zurich Classic for the next two editions, providing a valuable opportunity to defend their title. The tournament's format and generous incentives have attracted a strong field, and the Fitzpatrick brothers' performance has injected excitement into the narrative. Their ability to dominate in the better‑ball round, combined with the tactical demands of the upcoming alternate‑shot format, sets the stage for a dramatic conclusion.
Golf fans will be watching closely to see if Alex and Matt can translate their commanding lead into a historic victory, adding another chapter to their growing legacy on the PGA Tour.