Shane Lowry will join forces with Brooks Koepka for the upcoming Zurich Classic of New Orleans, a team‑based competition held at TPC Louisiana. The duo becomes part of a 80‑team field that will battle for the trophy, following last year’s champions Ben Griffin and Andrew Novak, who edged out the Danish brothers Nicolai and Rasmus Højgaard by a single stroke to claim the 2025 title.
In recent memory, Rory McIlroy and Lowry have been the most successful partnership at the event, capturing the 2024 championship after a dramatic playoff win over Martin Trainer and Chad Ramey. Their victory was celebrated in style when they performed a spirited rendition of Journey’s "Don’t Stop Believin'" on stage, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
The pair decided to team up after a "drunken lunch" in Rome, where they were reveling in Team Europe’s Ryder Cup triumph in 2023. As McIlroy recounted to GOLF.com, "I asked him [to play].
We had this really drunken lunch after the Ryder Cup last year. I said afterward, ‘You wanna play the Zurich together?’ And we were like, ‘yeah, let’s do it.’" While McIlroy enjoys a brief hiatus from competition after back‑to‑back Green Jacket victories at The Masters, Lowry has found a new partner in Koepka, a five‑time major champion who returned to the PGA Tour in January after a four‑year stint with LIV Golf. Their partnership is notable not only because they have faced each other on opposite Ryder Cup teams in the past, but also because they share a close friendship and live within a short drive of each other in Florida.
Together, Lowry and Koepka bring a combined six major championships to the table. Lowry’s resume includes a 2019 Open Championship win at Royal Portrush and two Ryder Cup victories with Europe. Koepka’s trophy cabinet boasts five majors—two U.S.
Opens and three PGA Championships—making him one of the most decorated American golfers of his generation. Their experience on golf's biggest stages makes them early favorites, though the field is deep and competitive.
Among the other contenders, Matt Fitzpatrick will return to the event alongside his younger brother Alex. Matt, fresh from a second PGA Tour win of the season, has risen to No.
3 in the Official World Golf Rankings after triumphs at the Valspar Championship and a dramatic playoff victory over world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler at the RBC Heritage. Alex, who captured his first DP World Tour title at the Hero Indian Open in March, is also in fine form. The Fitzpatrick brothers missed the cut by two strokes when they entered the Zurich Classic last year, so they will be eager to improve their performance.
PGA Tour rookie Marco Penge will make his tournament debut with fellow Englishman Matt Wallace. Penge, known for his long‑drive capabilities, posted a T‑4 finish at the Valspar Championship in March, suggesting he could be a dark horse. Aaron Rai will partner with Sahith Theegala, who has already logged four top‑10 finishes on the PGA Tour this season, adding further depth to the competition.
The Zurich Classic is unique on the PGA Tour as the sole team event. The format alternates between four‑ball (best ball) play in the first and third rounds and foursomes (alternate‑shot) in the second and final rounds. In four‑ball, each player plays his own ball and the lower score on each hole counts for the team.
In foursomes, the pair shares a single ball, alternating shots and teeing off on alternate holes; the total strokes taken determine the team’s score for each hole. After 36 holes, the top 33 teams and any ties advance to the weekend rounds. Last year’s cut line sat at ten strokes under par, and notable names such as Collin Morikawa and Kurt Kitayama missed the weekend.
If the teams are tied after 72 holes, a sudden‑death playoff will decide the champion. This year’s prize purse has been increased from $9.2 million to $9.5 million, with the winning duo splitting roughly 14.45 percent—about $1.372 million each.
In addition to the financial reward, each player on the winning team will earn 400 FedExCup points, though no Official World Golf Ranking points are awarded for the event. The champions also secure invitations to marquee tournaments in the 2027 season, including The Players Championship and the PGA Championship, and they receive an exemption to return to the Zurich Classic for the next two years. Sky Sports will broadcast live coverage across all four days. Early‑round action begins at 1 p.m.
on Thursday on Sky Sports Golf, with full coverage from 8 p.m. The second round kicks off at 1:45 p.m. on Friday, again moving to full coverage at 8 p.m.
Weekend coverage starts at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, with full broadcasts from 6 p.m.
each day. Simultaneously, the first women’s major of the year, the Chevron Classic, will be shown live on Sky Sports Main Event. With a blend of seasoned champions, rising stars, and fresh faces, the Zurich Classic promises high drama and fierce competition.
Fans can follow the action throughout the week on Sky Sports, cheering for their favorite pairings and watching to see which duo lifts the trophy at the end of the weekend.