Shane Lowry and Brooks Koepka, two of golf's most recognizable names, were unable to make the cut at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, missing it by a single stroke after the first two rounds. Their early exit came despite a promising start that saw them post a solid combined score, but the competition proved too fierce, and they fell just short of the nine‑under‑par threshold needed to continue into the weekend. Lowry entered the tournament as a former champion, having captured the Zurich Classic title two years earlier when he paired with Rory McIlroy.
This year, however, McIlroy was absent from the field, prompting Lowry to team up with five‑time major winner Brooks Koepka. The new partnership began brightly, with the duo carding a 66 in the opening four‑ball round on Thursday.
They followed that with a 69 in the foursomes format on Friday, leaving them at nine under par after 36 holes – just one shot away from the cut line, which was set at ten under. Meanwhile, the Fitzpatrick brothers, Matt and Alex, were making a strong statement. On Friday they posted a seven‑under‑par 65, catapulting them up the leaderboard into a shared second‑place position after the first two rounds.
Their performance was matched by the American pair Alex Smalley and Hayden Springer, who closed their round with a string of 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 third round, the Fitzpatrick brothers trailed the leaders by six strokes, but they responded with the lowest round of the day, narrowing the gap to a single shot heading into the final round on Saturday. A victory in New Orleans would be a fitting capstone to an extraordinary few months for the Fitzpatrick family. Matt Fitzpatrick has surged 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.
His younger brother Alex has also been in fine form, having secured his first DP World Tour victory at the Hero Indian Open in March. The Fitzpatrick brothers are not the only English players making an impact.
Aaron Rai, paired with American Sahith Theegala, sits at 12 under, while fellow Englishmen Matt Wallace and Marco Penge are just one shot behind at 11 under. Other teams tied for second place include Davis Thompson with Austin Eckroat, and the pairing of Billy Horschel and Tom Hoge, all sharing a total of 15 under par. The Zurich Classic is unique on the PGA Tour as the sole team‑based event.
The format alternates between four‑ball play for the first and third rounds and foursomes for the second and final rounds. In four‑ball, each player plays his own ball and the lower score on each hole counts for the team. In foursomes, teammates alternate shots with a single ball, and the total number of strokes taken determines the team’s score for each hole. After the initial 36 holes, the top 33 teams and any ties advance to the weekend competition.
If a tie remains after 72 holes, a sudden‑death playoff decides the champion. Financial stakes are high this year, as the tournament’s purse has been increased from $9.2 million to $9.5 million.
The winning duo will split roughly 14.45 percent of the total purse, translating to about $1.372 million to share between them. Each player on the victorious team also earns 400 FedExCup points, although no Official World Golf Ranking points are awarded for this event. In addition to the monetary reward, the champions secure exemptions into several marquee tournaments for the 2027 season, including The Players Championship and the PGA Championship, as well as an automatic entry into the Zurich Classic for the next two years.
While Lowry and Koepka’s hopes were dashed, their early rounds demonstrated that they remain competitive in the team format. Their combined nine‑under‑par score after two rounds showed they could have been serious contenders had a few shots gone their way. For the Fitzpatrick brothers, the weekend promises an opportunity to add another prestigious team title to their growing list of achievements, further cementing their status as one of the sport’s most successful sibling pairings.
Fans can follow the action live via the PGA Tour’s streaming platforms, and Sky Sports continues to provide extensive coverage, including podcasts and live updates. The tournament also offers a chance for spectators to engage with the sport through various digital channels, such as Sky Sports’ WhatsApp service, which delivers the latest news, video highlights, and expert analysis directly to fans. Overall, the Zurich Classic continues to showcase the excitement of team golf on the PGA Tour, offering a blend of individual skill and collaborative strategy.
With the prize money on the rise and the added incentives of future tournament exemptions, the event remains a coveted goal for players seeking both financial reward and a place in golf’s storied history.