The English brothers, Alex and Matt Fitzpatrick, entered the final day of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans with a commanding four‑stroke cushion after delivering a historic better‑ball round of 57, the lowest ever recorded in the tournament. Their combined effort, which pushed them to a cumulative 30‑under‑par, eclipsed the previous 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 pair produced an astonishing 13 birdies, eight of which came on the back nine alone, and Matt capped the round with an eagle on the par‑five seventh hole.
"Amazing day. It probably hasn't sunk in yet how well we played," Matt said, smiling after the round.
"It was hole after hole of great golf." Alex praised his younger sibling, noting that Matt's game had taken a noticeable turn for the better over the past few months. "He played brilliant golf both last two days," Alex remarked, referencing Matt's recent victory at the Indian Open. "His game has really turned a corner, and I believe he will keep that momentum going. He's doing all the right things, and it was great to see him make such a big impact on the back nine." Should the brothers capture the title, Matt would notch his fifth PGA Tour win and become the first player in more than two years to claim back‑to‑back victories on the Tour, a feat last achieved by Scottie Scheffler when he won the 2024 Masters and the 2024 RBC Heritage.
Alex would also 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.
After a record‑tying 58 in better‑ball play on Thursday, Alex Smalley and Hayden Springer posted a 62 on Saturday, dropping them into a tie for second place alongside Davis Thompson and Austin Eckroat. Doug Ghim and Jeffrey Kang recorded a 61, moving into fourth place, five strokes behind the leaders.
Zach Bauchou made the event’s first hole‑in‑one since 2024 on the par‑three third, and he and partner Sam Stevens finished with a 64, eight shots back. Veteran Billy Horschel, the only player to have won the Zurich Classic both as an individual and as part of a team, teamed with Tom Hoge for a 64, sitting seven strokes behind.
Sunday’s final round will shift to the alternate‑shot (foursomes) format, where teammates share a single ball and take turns hitting shots. This change tests teamwork and strategy, as the combined total of strokes on each hole determines the team’s score.
After the first two rounds, the top 33 teams and any ties advance to the weekend, and if a tie persists after 72 holes, a sudden‑death playoff will decide the champion. The Zurich Classic stands out as the PGA Tour’s sole team event, featuring four‑ball play in the first and third rounds and foursomes in the second and final rounds.
The prize fund has been increased this year from $9.2 million (£6.83 million) to $9.5 million (£7.05 million). The victorious duo will split roughly 14.45 percent of the purse, estimated at about $1.372 million (£1.02 million) each, and each player will earn 400 FedExCup points, though no Official World Golf Ranking points are awarded. Beyond the immediate financial reward, the winners gain valuable exemptions: entry into marquee tournaments for the 2027 season, including the Players Championship and the PGA Championship, as well as a two‑year invitation to return to the Zurich Classic. These perks underscore the significance of the event on the Tour calendar.
The brothers’ performance also highlights the growing depth of English talent on the PGA Tour. Alex, a former major champion, and Matt, fresh off his Indian Open triumph, have demonstrated that they can dominate in both individual and team formats. Their synergy on the course, evident in the 13 birdies and the eagle that capped their record round, suggests a partnership that could become a regular feature in future team events.
Fans can follow the action live via Sky Sports, which offers streaming without a contract, and can also tune into the Sky Sports Golf Podcast for analysis and commentary. For those interested in playing the courses themselves, Sky Sports provides a booking service for over 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland. In summary, the Fitzpatrick brothers sit atop the leaderboard with a four‑stroke lead heading into the decisive round of the Zurich Classic. Their historic 57‑stroke better‑ball performance, combined with a series of impressive birdies and an eagle, has set a high bar for the field.
With substantial prize money, FedExCup points, and future tournament exemptions on the line, the final round promises high drama as teams switch to the alternate‑shot format in pursuit of the coveted team title.