Shane Lowry and Brooks Koepka, two of the most recognizable names on the PGA Tour, saw their hopes of advancing at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans evaporate by a single stroke. Both players missed the cut after posting scores that left them just one shot shy of the required ten-under-par threshold at the halfway point.
Lowry entered the tournament as a former champion; he captured the Zurich Classic title two years earlier while paired with Rory McIlroy. This year, however, McIlroy was absent, prompting Lowry to team up with the five‑time major winner Brooks Koepka.
The newly formed duo started strongly, carding a 66 in the opening four‑ball round on Thursday and following it with a 69 in the foursomes on Friday. Their combined effort left them nine under par after 36 holes, but it was not enough to secure a spot in the weekend field. Meanwhile, the Fitzpatrick brothers – Matt and Alex – were making a decisive move up the leaderboard. On Friday they posted a seven‑under‑par 65, propelling them into a share of second place after the first two rounds.
Their momentum was matched by the American pair Alex Smalley and Hayden Springer, who closed their round with consecutive birdies to finish at 70, moving them to 16 under par and giving them a one‑stroke lead over the Fitzpatricks and two other teams. Going into the Friday foursomes, Smalley and Springer held a six‑shot advantage over the Fitzpatricks.
Yet the brothers responded with the day’s lowest round, narrowing the gap to a single stroke heading into Saturday’s decisive matches. A victory in New Orleans would be a fitting climax to a remarkable few months for Matt Fitzpatrick, who has surged to third in the Official World Golf Rankings after winning the Valspar Championship and clinching the RBC Heritage in a dramatic playoff against world‑number‑one Scottie Scheffler. Alex Fitzpatrick, too, has been riding a wave of form.
He secured his first DP World Tour victory at the Hero Indian Open in March, adding a significant credential to his résumé. The Sheffield‑born siblings had attempted the Zurich Classic last year but fell short, missing the cut by two strokes.
Tied with the Fitzpatricks for second place are Davis Thompson and Austin Eckroat, as well as Billy Horschel and Tom Hoge, all sitting at 15 under par. English interest remains strong with Aaron Rai, paired with American Sahith Theegala, positioned at 12 under, while compatriots Matt Wallace and Marco Penge trail by a single shot at 11 under. The Zurich Classic is unique on the PGA Tour as the sole team‑based competition. The format blends four‑ball play for the first and third rounds, where each golfer plays his own ball and the lower score on each hole counts for the team, with a foursomes (alternate‑shot) format for the second and final rounds.
In foursomes, teammates share one ball, alternating shots and teeing off on alternate holes, with the total strokes determining the team’s score for each hole. After the initial two rounds, the top 33 teams and any ties advance to the weekend. If teams are tied after the full 72 holes, a sudden‑death playoff decides the champion.
This year’s event carries a heightened purse, having been increased from $9.2 million (£6.83 million) to $9.5 million (£7.05 million). The winning pair will split roughly 14.45 percent of the total, translating to about $1.372 million (£1.02 million) per team. Each player on the victorious squad also earns 400 FedExCup points, though no Official World Golf Ranking points are awarded.
Beyond the immediate financial reward, the champions gain valuable exemptions. They will automatically qualify for marquee events in the 2027 season, including The Players Championship and the PGA Championship, and will enjoy an invitation to return to the Zurich Classic for the next two years. In summary, while Lowry and Koepka’s early exit was disappointing for fans hoping to see a high‑profile pairing contend, the Fitzpatrick brothers have emerged as the story of the tournament, showcasing consistent play and the potential to capture the title.
Their performance, coupled with the strong showing from other teams such as Smalley/Springer and Thompson/Eckroat, underscores the competitive depth of the field and sets the stage for an exciting conclusion to the Zurich Classic weekend.