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 early exit came despite a promising start that had them within striking distance of the weekend field.
Lowry entered the tournament as a former champion, having captured the Zurich Classic title two years earlier while paired with Rory McIlroy. This year, with McIlroy absent, Lowry teamed up with the five‑time major winner Brooks Koepka, hoping that the combination of Lowry's consistency and Koepka's power would be enough to carry them through. The pair opened with a solid 66 in the four‑ball format on Thursday, followed by a respectable 69 in the foursomes on Friday.
Those scores left them nine under par after 36 holes, just one shot shy of the cut line, which sat at ten under. While Lowry and Koepka fell short, the Fitzpatrick brothers, Matt and Alex, were making a strong push up the leaderboard.
On Friday, the English siblings posted a blistering seven‑under 65, catapulting them into a share of second place after the halfway point. Their momentum was matched by the American duo of Alex Smalley and Hayden Springer, who closed their round with back‑to‑back birdies to finish at 70, moving them to 16 under and giving them a one‑stroke lead over the Fitzpatricks and two other teams. Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick had trailed Smalley and Springer by six strokes heading into Friday's foursomes, but they responded with the lowest round of the day, narrowing the gap to a single stroke heading into Saturday’s decisive round. A victory in New Orleans would be a fitting capstone to an extraordinary few months for the Fitzpatrick family.
Matt, who has surged to No. 3 in the Official World Golf Rankings, recently secured back‑to‑back wins at the Valspar Championship and the RBC Heritage, the latter where he defeated world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler in a dramatic playoff.
Alex, meanwhile, has been riding a wave of form of his own, having claimed his maiden DP World Tour title at the Hero Indian Open in March. The tournament’s leaderboard also featured several other notable teams. 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.
English interest remained high with Aaron Rai, partnered with American Sahith Theegala, positioned at 12 under, while compatriots Matt Wallace and Marco Penge were just one shot behind at 11 under. The Zurich Classic is unique on the PGA Tour as the only team‑based event. The competition begins with a four‑ball format for the first and third rounds, where each player plays his own ball and the lower score on each hole counts for the team.
The second and final rounds switch to a foursomes (alternate‑shot) format, requiring teammates to share a single ball and alternate shots throughout the round, including alternating tee shots on odd and even holes. After 36 holes, the top 33 teams and any ties advance to the weekend. If a tie persists after 72 holes, a sudden‑death playoff determines the champion. This year’s purse saw a modest increase, rising from $9.2 million to $9.5 million.
The winning pair will split roughly 14.45 percent of that total—about $1.372 million—plus each player will earn 400 FedExCup points. While the victory does not award Official World Golf Ranking points, it does grant the champions invitations to marquee events in the 2027 season, including The Players Championship and the PGA Championship, as well as a two‑year exemption to return to the Zurich Classic.
In summary, Lowry and Koepka’s narrow miss underscores the razor‑thin margins that define team golf, especially in a format that demands both individual skill and seamless partnership. Meanwhile, the Fitzpatrick brothers continue to build on their recent successes, positioning themselves as serious contenders for the title. As the weekend unfolds, the remaining teams will vie for the lucrative prize money, valuable FedExCup points, and coveted spots in next year’s biggest tournaments, all while showcasing the camaraderie and competitive spirit that make the Zurich Classic a standout event on the PGA Tour calendar.