Alex and Matt Fitzpatrick, the English brothers, entered the final day of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans with a commanding four‑stroke advantage after delivering a historic better‑ball round of 57, the lowest ever recorded in the tournament. Their 15‑under‑par performance lifted the duo to a total of 30 under par, vaulting them ahead of the previous leaders, Alex Smalley and Hayden Springer, who had posted a 61, as well as fellow Americans Davis Thompson and Austin Eckroat. During the third round at TPC Louisiana, the Fitzpatrick pair combined for an astonishing 13 birdies, eight of which came on the back nine.
Matt also added an eagle on the par‑five seventh hole, further extending their lead. "Amazing day.
Probably not kind of sunk in how well we played today, if I'm honest," Matt said after the round, describing the back‑to‑back birdie opportunities as "hole after hole." He praised his older brother’s play, noting, "He played brilliant golf both last two days. 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 brothers can convert their lead into a victory, Matt would notch his fifth PGA Tour win and would become the first player in more than two years to claim back‑to‑back titles on the circuit, a feat last achieved by Scottie Scheffler, who won the 2024 Masters and the 2024 RBC Heritage. Alex would also reap significant benefits, securing a two‑year PGA Tour exemption through 2028, along with automatic invitations to the next four signature events, the 2026 PGA Championship and the 2027 Players Championship.
Meanwhile, the competition remained fierce. Alex Smalley and Hayden Springer, who had posted a course‑record‑tying 58 in better‑ball play on Thursday—a score that held for 48 hours—recorded a 62 in the third round, dropping them into a tie for second place with Davis Thompson and Austin Eckroat. Doug Ghim and Jeffrey Kang posted 61s to sit in fourth place, five strokes behind the leaders. Zach Bauchou made 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 shots back.
Veteran Billy Horschel, the only player to have won the Zurich Classic both as an individual and as part of a team, shot a 64 alongside Tom Hoge, leaving them seven strokes off the lead. The final round will shift to the alternate‑shot (foursomes) format, where teammates share a single ball and take turns hitting shots. This change adds a strategic layer, as players must decide who tees off on each hole and coordinate their play to maintain momentum.
The Zurich Classic stands out as the PGA Tour’s sole team‑based event. The first and third rounds use the four‑ball format, where each golfer plays his own ball and the lower score on each hole counts for the team. The second and fourth rounds adopt the foursomes format, requiring alternating shots with one ball per team. After 36 holes, the top 33 teams and any ties advance to the weekend competition.
If a tie persists after 72 holes, a sudden‑death playoff will determine the champion. Financial stakes are high this year. Tour officials have increased the tournament purse from $9.2 million (£6.83 million) to $9.5 million (£7.05 million). The victorious team will split roughly 14.45 percent of the total, translating to about $1.372 million (£1.02 million) per player.
In addition to the monetary reward, each winner receives 400 FedExCup points, though no Official World Golf Ranking points are awarded for this event. The triumph also guarantees entry into several marquee tournaments for the 2027 season, including the Players Championship and the PGA Championship, and provides a two‑year exemption to return to the Zurich Classic.
Beyond the competition, the event offers fans multiple ways to engage. Viewers can stream the PGA Tour without a contract, catch live coverage on Sky Sports, or listen to the Sky Sports Golf Podcast for analysis and commentary. Sky Sports also shares updates via WhatsApp, delivering the latest news, videos, and features directly to subscribers.
The Zurich Classic’s unique format showcases the camaraderie and strategic depth of team golf, contrasting with the predominantly individual nature of the rest of the PGA Tour schedule. For the Fitzpatrick brothers, the combination of skill, chemistry, and recent form has positioned them as the favorites to capture the title and reap the substantial rewards that accompany victory.