Shane Lowry and Brooks Koepka, two of the most recognizable names on the PGA Tour, saw their hopes of progressing at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans evaporate by a single stroke, missing the cut after the first two rounds. Their partnership, forged after the absence of Rory McIlroy—who had teamed with Lowry when they won the event two years earlier—paired Lowry with the five‑time major champion Koepka in a bid to repeat that success. The duo opened the tournament with a solid 66 in the four‑ball format on Thursday, followed by a respectable 69 in the foursomes on Friday. Those scores left them at nine under par after 36 holes, just one shot shy of the ten‑under cut line required to continue into the weekend.
Despite their strong play, the narrow margin proved enough to send them home early. Meanwhile, English brothers Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick surged up the leaderboard on Friday with a blistering seven‑under 65, catapulting them into a share of second place after the halfway point. Their performance was part of a broader narrative that saw several teams jockeying for position as the tournament progressed. American pair Alex Smalley and Hayden Springer maintained their lead after posting back‑to‑back birdies to finish a round of 70, moving them to 16 under par—one stroke clear of the Fitzpatrick brothers and two strokes ahead of the next‑closest teams.
The Fitzpatricks, who entered the day six shots behind Smalley and Springer, responded with the lowest round of the day, narrowing the gap to a single stroke heading into Saturday's final round of foursomes. A victory in New Orleans would cap an extraordinary few months for the Fitzpatrick family.
Matt Fitzpatrick, who has climbed to third in the Official World Golf Rankings, recently captured the Valspar Championship and then triumphed at the RBC Heritage, edging world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler in a dramatic playoff. His younger brother Alex, who earned his first DP World Tour title at the Hero Indian Open in March, has also been in fine form. The brothers missed the cut by two strokes in the Zurich Classic last year, making this year’s strong showing all the more satisfying.
Tied with the Fitzpatricks for second place were Davis Thompson and Austin Eckroat, as well as Billy Horschel and Tom Hoge, each sitting at 15 under par. English interest remained high with Aaron Rai, partnered with American Sahith Theegala, sitting at 12 under, while fellow Englishmen Matt Wallace and Marco Penge were just one shot behind at 11 under.
The Zurich Classic is unique on the PGA Tour as the only team‑based event, featuring a four‑ball format for the first and third rounds and a foursomes (alternate‑shot) format for the second and final rounds. In the four‑ball stage, each player plays his own ball and the lower score on each hole counts for the team.
The foursomes stage requires the pair to play a single ball, alternating shots and teeing off on alternate holes, with the combined total determining the team’s score. After the initial 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 decides the champion. This year’s tournament carried an increased purse, rising from $9.2 million to $9.5 million, with the winning duo set to split roughly $1.372 million—about 14.45 % of the total prize fund.
In addition to the financial reward, each player on the winning team will earn 400 FedExCup points, though no Official World Golf Ranking points are awarded. Beyond the immediate prize, the champions secure invitations to marquee events for the 2027 season, including The Players Championship and the PGA Championship, and they receive a two‑year exemption to return to the Zurich Classic. The early exit of Lowry and Koepka underscores the razor‑thin margins that define team golf. A single shot can be the difference between a weekend of contention and a return home.
For the Fitzpatrick brothers, the tournament represents both a personal redemption after last year’s disappointment and a stepping stone toward further success on the international stage. As the weekend unfolds, spectators will be watching to see if they can convert their strong position into a historic victory, adding their names to the short list of players who have captured the coveted Zurich Classic title.