Shane Lowry and Brooks Koepka, the headline‑grabbing duo for this year’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans, were unable to survive the cut, missing it by a single stroke after two rounds of play. Their exit came despite an auspicious start that had many observers believing they might contend for the title. Lowry entered the event as a former champion, having lifted the trophy two years earlier when he partnered with Rory McIlroy. This year, however, McIlroy was absent, prompting Lowry to join forces with five‑time major winner Brooks Koepka.
The pairing began their campaign with a solid 66 in the Thursday four‑ball round, followed by a respectable 69 in the Friday foursomes. Those two rounds left the team at nine under par, just one shot shy of the cut line, which was set at ten under.
Meanwhile, the Fitzpatrick brothers—Matt and Alex—were making a strong push up the leaderboard. On Friday they posted a remarkable seven‑under 65, catapulting them into a share of second place after 36 holes. Their performance was complemented by the American pair Alex Smalley and Hayden Springer, who maintained the top spot by carding a 70 that featured consecutive birdies, moving them to 16 under and giving them a one‑stroke lead over the Fitzpatricks and two other teams. Going into the third round, the Fitzpatrick brothers trailed Smalley and Springer by six strokes.
Yet they responded with the day’s lowest round, narrowing the gap to a single stroke heading into Saturday’s decisive foursomes. A victory in New Orleans would add a fitting finale to what has already been a remarkable few months for Matt Fitzpatrick.
He recently climbed to third in the Official World Golf Rankings after winning the Valspar Championship and then clinching the RBC Heritage in a dramatic playoff against world number one Scottie Scheffler. Alex Fitzpatrick has also been in fine form, securing his first DP World Tour win at the Hero Indian Open earlier in March. The Sheffield‑born brothers had attempted the Zurich Classic last year but missed the cut by two strokes, making their current run all the more encouraging.
Other teams tied for second place include Davis Thompson with Austin Eckroat, as well as Billy Horschel paired with Tom Hoge, all sitting at 15 under par. English interest remains high with Aaron Rai, teamed with American Sahith Theegala, sitting at 12 under, while Matt Wallace and Marco Penge are just one shot behind at 11 under.
The Zurich Classic is unique on the PGA Tour as the sole team‑based competition. The format alternates between four‑ball play for the first and third rounds—where each player hits their own ball and the lower score on each hole counts for the team—and foursomes for the second and final rounds, where teammates share a single ball and alternate shots.
After the initial 36 holes, the top 33 teams and any ties advance to the weekend stages. If a tie persists after 72 holes, a sudden‑death playoff determines the champion. This year’s event carries a larger purse than before, having been increased from $9.2 million (£6.83 million) to $9.5 million (£7.05 million).
The winning squad will split roughly 14.45 percent of the total, translating to about $1.372 million (£1.02 million) per team. In addition to the monetary reward, each player on the victorious team will earn 400 FedExCup points, though no Official World Golf Ranking points are on offer. Beyond the immediate prize, the champions secure valuable exemptions for future high‑profile tournaments.
They will receive invitations to the 2027 Players Championship and the 2027 PGA Championship, as well as an automatic entry into the Zurich Classic for the following two seasons. The early elimination of Lowry and Koepka underscores the unpredictable nature of team golf, where chemistry and consistency across both formats are essential. While the low‑profile Fitzpatrick brothers have seized the moment, the tournament still has several rounds left to play, and the leaderboard could shift dramatically as teams navigate the demanding foursomes format on the final day.
Fans can follow the action through various streaming platforms, and Sky Sports continues to provide live coverage, podcasts, and updates. For those interested in experiencing the sport firsthand, a network of over 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland offers booking options, ensuring that the excitement of the Zurich Classic can be enjoyed both on‑screen and on the fairways.