Shane Lowry and Brooks Koepka have joined forces for this week’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans, the PGA Tour’s sole team‑event, which will be contested at TPC Louisiana. Their partnership adds another intriguing storyline to a field of 80 duos all vying for the coveted title. The defending champions, Ben Griffin and Andrew Novak, will be back after narrowly defeating the Danish brothers Nicolai and Rasmus Højgaard by a single stroke to claim the 2025 edition.
The tournament has already produced memorable moments in recent years. In 2024, Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry, both members of Europe’s Ryder Cup squad, captured the trophy after a dramatic playoff against Martin Trainer and Chad Ramey. The celebration that followed became a viral sensation when the pair performed a rousing version of Journey’s "Don’t Stop Believin’" on stage, much to the delight of the cheering crowd.
That partnership was born out of a "drunken lunch" in Rome after Team Europe’s triumph in the 2023 Ryder Cup, a story McIlroy recounted to GOLF.com: "I asked him [to play]," he said. "We had this really drunken lunch after the Ryder Cup last year. I said after, 'You wanna play the Zurich together?' And we were like, 'yeah, let's do it.'" While McIlroy enjoys a brief hiatus from competitive play after securing back‑to‑back Green Jackets at The Masters, Lowry has now paired with five‑time major champion Brooks Koepka.
Koepka re‑joined the PGA Tour in January following a four‑year stint with LIV Golf, making his return to a traditional tour event a notable storyline. The duo’s friendship is genuine; both live in Florida and have faced each other on opposite sides of the Ryder Cup in previous editions, yet they maintain a close bond off the course. Together, Lowry and Koepka bring an impressive résumé to the competition. Lowry captured The Open Championship in 2019 at Royal Portrush and has been a key contributor to two European Ryder Cup victories.
Koepka’s trophy cabinet is even more crowded, featuring five major titles—including two U.S. Open victories and three PGA Championships—plus a reputation for thriving under pressure. Their combined six major wins and extensive experience on golf’s biggest stages make them early favorites, but the field is deep and competitive.
Among the other contenders, Matt Fitzpatrick arrives fresh off his second PGA Tour win of the season. He will be paired with his younger brother, Alex Fitzpatrick, marking a rare sibling pairing on the Tour. Matt has surged to No.
3 in the Official World Golf Rankings after triumphs at the Valspar Championship and the RBC Heritage, where he outlasted world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler in a playoff.
Alex, meanwhile, earned his first DP World Tour title at the Hero Indian Open in March and is eager to improve on last year’s missed cut. Rookie Marco Penge, known for his long‑driver prowess, will make his PGA Tour debut alongside fellow Englishman Matt Wallace.
Penge’s best finish to date is a tie for fourth at the Valspar Championship, indicating he could be a dark horse. Aaron Rai will also return, teaming up with Sahith Theegala, who has already chalked up four top‑10 finishes this season on the PGA Tour. The Zurich Classic’s format is unique on the PGA Tour. The first and third rounds are played as four‑ball, where each player hits his own ball and the lower of the two scores on each hole counts for the team.
The second and final rounds switch to foursomes, also known as alternate‑shot, where teammates share a single ball and take turns hitting shots, including alternating tee shots on each hole. After 36 holes, the top 33 teams and any ties advance to the weekend rounds. Last year’s cut line was set at –10, and even high‑profile players such as Collin Morikawa and Kurt Kitayama missed the weekend.
If a tie persists after the full 72 holes, a sudden‑death playoff will decide the champion. The prize purse for this year’s event has been increased from $9.2 million to $9.5 million, with the winning team splitting 14.45 percent—approximately $1.372 million—between them.
Each winner also receives 400 FedExCup points, although no Official World Golf Ranking points are awarded. In addition to the financial reward, the victorious pair earns exemptions into marquee tournaments for the 2027 season, including The Players Championship and The PGA Championship, as well as an automatic invitation to the Zurich Classic for the next two years. Broadcast coverage will be extensive on Sky Sports. Early‑round action begins at 1 p.m.
on Thursday on Sky Sports Golf, with full coverage kicking in at 8 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
The weekend sessions start at 2 p.m. with comprehensive coverage from 6 p.m. each day. Simultaneously, the first women’s major of the year, the Chevron Classic, will launch on Thursday on Sky Sports Main Event, offering golf fans a full slate of high‑stakes competition.
In summary, the Zurich Classic promises a blend of seasoned champions, rising talents, and unique team dynamics. Koepka and Lowry’s partnership, built on friendship and mutual respect, adds a compelling narrative to an already stacked field.
With a substantial purse, FedExCup points, and future tournament exemptions on the line, the stakes are high for all 80 teams. Fans can follow every swing, putt, and dramatic moment live on Sky Sports throughout the week, and see which duo ultimately lifts the Zurich Classic trophy.