Shane Lowry and Brooks Koepka are set to join forces for the upcoming Zurich Classic of New Orleans, a unique team‑based tournament held 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 edging out Nicolai and Rasmus Højgaard by a single stroke to claim the 2025 victory. The Zurich Classic has become a showcase for creative pairings, and this year’s lineup features a mix of seasoned veterans and rising stars.
Notably, Rory McIlroy and Lowry have enjoyed success together in the past, capturing the 2024 edition after a dramatic playoff against Martin Trainer and Chad Ramey. Their win was celebrated with a lively performance of Journey’s "Don’t Stop Believin’" that sent the crowd into a frenzy. According to McIlroy, the decision to team up originated from a "drunken lunch" in Rome following Team Europe’s Ryder Cup triumph in 2023. "I asked him to play," McIlroy told GOLF.com.
"We had this really drunken lunch after the Ryder Cup last year. I said afterwards, ‘You wanna play the Zurich together?’ And we were like, ‘yeah, let’s do it.’" While McIlroy is currently enjoying a break from competition after back‑to‑back Green Jacket victories at The Masters, Lowry will be sharing a bag with five‑time major champion Brooks Koepka.
Koepka returned to the PGA Tour in January after a four‑year stint with LIV Golf, and his reunion with the regular tour is generating plenty of buzz. The two are not only close friends; they also reside within a short drive of each other in Florida, making practice sessions more convenient. Both players bring an impressive résumé to the table. Lowry’s crowning achievement came at the 2019 Open Championship at Royal Portrush, and he has been a vital member of two Ryder Cup‑winning squads.
Koepka, meanwhile, boasts five major titles—including two U.S. Opens and three PGA Championships—and is widely regarded as one of the most formidable competitors in modern golf. Together, they account for six major championships and a wealth of experience under pressure, positioning them as early favorites. However, the competition will be fierce.
Fresh off his second PGA Tour win of the season, Matt Fitzpatrick will be back on the course alongside his younger brother, Alex Fitzpatrick. Matt’s recent surge has propelled him to No. 3 in the Official World Golf Rankings after victories at the Valspar Championship and the RBC Heritage, where he edged world No.
1 Scottie Scheffler in a playoff. 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 last year, so they will be eager to improve on that performance.
Rookie Marco Penge, a long‑driver from England, will make his PGA Tour debut at the Zurich Classic, paired with fellow Englishman Matt Wallace. Penge’s best finish to date is a T‑4 at the Valspar Championship, and his power off the tee could prove valuable in the four‑ball rounds. Aaron Rai will also return, this time partnered with Sahith Theegala, who has already logged four top‑10 finishes on the PGA Tour this season. The Zurich Classic remains the sole team event on the PGA Tour calendar.
The format is split into two distinct phases. Rounds one and three are played as four‑ball, where each player hits their own ball and the lower score on each hole counts for the team. Rounds two and four shift to foursomes, a more demanding alternate‑shot format in which the partners share a single ball, alternating tee shots and strokes throughout the round. After 36 holes, the top 33 teams and any ties advance to the weekend, while the remainder are cut.
Last year the cut line sat at ten strokes under par, and notable 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 determine the champion. The stakes are high: the prize purse has been increased from $9.2 million to $9.5 million, and the winning duo will split roughly 14.45 percent of that total—about $1.372 million each.
In addition to the financial reward, each winner receives 400 FedExCup points, though no Official World Golf Ranking points are awarded. The victory also grants the pair 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. Broadcast coverage will be extensive.
Sky Sports will air live action from all four days, beginning with early‑round highlights at 1 p.m. on Sky Sports Golf, followed by full coverage from 8 p.m. on Thursday. Friday’s second round will start at 1:45 p.m., with prime‑time coverage again at 8 p.m.
Weekend play will be shown from 2 p.m. with full coverage kicking off at 6 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.
In addition, the first women’s major of the year, the Chevron Classic, will also be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event. With a blend of seasoned champions, hungry newcomers, and a format that tests both individual skill and teamwork, the Zurich Classic promises drama, excitement, and perhaps a few surprises. Will Koepka and Lowry’s friendship translate into a winning partnership? Can the Fitzpatrick brothers finally break through after last year’s disappointment?
And which of the many talented duos will rise to claim the biggest prize on the PGA Tour’s team stage? Tune in throughout the week to watch the action unfold on Sky Sports and see which pair etches their names into the tournament’s growing history.