The English duo of Alex and Matt Fitzpatrick surged into a commanding four‑stroke advantage as they headed into the final day of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, thanks to a historic better‑ball third round of 57 – the lowest ever recorded for the tournament. Their 15‑under‑par round lifted the pair to a total of 30 under par, propelling them past the overnight leaders Alex Smalley and Hayden Springer, who had posted a 61, as well as fellow Americans Davis Thompson and Austin Eckroat, who were also in contention.
At TPC Louisiana the brothers combined for an astonishing 13 birdies, eight of which came on the back nine alone. Matt added a spectacular eagle on the par‑five seventh hole, further extending their margin.
"Amazing day. Probably not kind of sunk in how well we played today, if I'm honest," Matt Fitzpatrick said after the round. "It was just hole after hole." Alex praised his younger sibling, noting the rapid improvement in Matt's game.
"He played brilliant golf both last two days," Alex said, referring to 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." If the Fitzpatrick brothers can hold onto their lead and win the event, Matt would notch his fifth PGA Tour title and become the first player in more than two years to claim back‑to‑back victories on the Tour – the last being Scottie Scheffler, who won the 2024 Masters and the 2024 RBC Heritage. Alex would secure a two‑year PGA Tour exemption through 2028, along with invitations to the next four signature events, the 2026 PGA Championship and the 2027 Players Championship. 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 score that held up for 48 hours – posted a 62 on Saturday and fell into a tie for second place with Davis Thompson and Austin Eckroat.
Doug Ghim and Jeffrey Kang carded 61 to sit in fourth, five shots behind the leaders. Zach Bauchou recorded 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 strokes back. Veteran Billy Horschel, the only player to have won the Zurich Classic both as an individual and in the team format, shot a 64 with teammate Tom Hoge, leaving them seven shots off the lead.
Sunday's final round will shift to the alternate‑shot (foursomes) format, where each team plays a single ball and players take turns hitting shots. The total number of strokes taken on each hole will determine the team's score, and tee shots will also alternate.
The Zurich Classic is unique on the PGA Tour as the sole team‑based event. The first and third rounds are contested in four‑ball, where each golfer plays his own ball and the lower score on each hole counts for the team.
The second and final rounds adopt the foursomes format described above. After 36 holes, the top 33 teams and ties advance to the weekend competition.
If a tie remains after 72 holes, a sudden‑death playoff will decide the champion. This year the tournament's purse has been increased by the Tour's leadership, rising 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 – about $1.372 million (£1.02 million) – and each player will earn 400 FedExCup points, though no Official World Golf Ranking points are on offer. Beyond the immediate financial reward, the victors will gain entry into several of the most prestigious events on the 2027 calendar, including the Players Championship and the PGA Championship, as well as an exemption to return to the Zurich Classic for the next two editions.
The event has already produced several notable moments. In addition to the brothers' record‑breaking 57, the tournament saw a rare sub‑60 better‑ball round, a hole‑in‑one, and the continued resurgence of Matt Fitzpatrick after his Indian Open triumph. Fans can follow live coverage via Sky Sports, stream the PGA Tour without a contract, or listen to the Sky Sports Golf Podcast for analysis and commentary. For those interested in playing the courses featured on the Tour, bookings are available at over 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland, with price comparisons and online reservations easily accessible through major golf booking platforms.
As the final day approaches, the pressure will mount for the Fitzpatrick brothers to maintain their lead against a field of experienced professionals eager to capitalize on the lucrative prize pool and the coveted exemptions. The alternate‑shot format will test their teamwork and strategic coordination, making the Zurich Classic a true showcase of both individual skill and collaborative play.