Shane Lowry and Brooks Koepka, the headline‑grabbing duo for this year’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans, saw their tournament hopes evaporate after missing the cut by a single stroke. Their elimination came after a promising start that ultimately fell short of the nine‑under‑par threshold required to continue into the weekend rounds.
Lowry entered the event as a former champion, having captured the Zurich Classic title two years earlier alongside Rory McIlroy. This year, however, McIlroy was absent, prompting Lowry to pair with the five‑time major winner Brooks Koepka.
The pair opened with a solid 66 in the Thursday four‑ball round and followed it with a respectable 69 in the Friday foursomes, leaving them at nine under par after the halfway point. Unfortunately, the cut line sat at ten under, leaving them just one shot shy of advancing. Meanwhile, the Fitzpatrick brothers, Matt and Alex, were making a strong push up the leaderboard.
On Friday, they posted a blistering seven‑under‑par 65, catapulting them into a shared second‑place position after the first 36 holes. Their surge was matched by the American tandem of Alex Smalley and Hayden Springer, who closed their round with consecutive birdies to finish at 16 under, a full stroke ahead of the Fitzpatricks and two other pairs. Going into the Friday foursomes, Matt and Alex were six shots behind Smalley and Springer, but they responded with the day’s lowest round, narrowing the gap to a single stroke heading into Saturday’s decisive session. A victory in New Orleans would be a fitting capstone to an extraordinary few months for the Fitzpatrick family.
Matt, who has climbed to third in the Official World Golf Rankings, recently added wins at the Valspar Championship and the RBC Heritage—where he defeated world number one Scottie Scheffler in a dramatic playoff—to his résumé. Alex, too, has been riding a wave of form, having secured his first DP World Tour triumph at the Hero Indian Open in March.
The tournament’s leaderboard after 36 holes also featured Davis Thompson and Austin Eckroat, as well as Billy Horschel and Tom Hoge, all tied at 15 under and sharing the second‑place slot with the Fitzpatricks. English interest remained high with Aaron Rai, partnered with American Sahith Theegala, sitting at 12 under, while compatriots Matt Wallace and Marco Penge were just one shot further back at 11 under.
The Zurich Classic is unique on the PGA Tour as the sole team‑based competition. The format alternates between four‑ball play for the first and third rounds—where each player hits their own ball and the lower score on each hole counts for the team—and foursomes for the second and final rounds, in which teammates alternate shots using a single ball. After the initial two rounds, the top 33 teams and any ties advance to the weekend. If a tie persists after 72 holes, a sudden‑death playoff determines the champion.
This year’s event carries an elevated purse, with organizers boosting the total prize money from $9.2 million to $9.5 million. The winning team will split roughly 14.45 percent of the pool, translating to about $1.372 million per player. In addition to the financial reward, each member of the victorious duo will earn 400 FedExCup points, though no Official World Golf Ranking points are on offer. The triumph also grants the winners entry into marquee events for the 2027 season, including the Players Championship and the PGA Championship, along with an exemption to compete in the Zurich Classic for the next two years.
While Lowry and Koepka’s early exit was a disappointment for fans hoping to see a repeat of Lowry’s 2022 success, the tournament nonetheless provided plenty of drama and showcased the depth of talent across both the PGA and European tours. The Fitzpatrick brothers, in particular, demonstrated the chemistry and resilience required to excel in a format that demands both individual skill and seamless teamwork. As the weekend progresses, all eyes will be on the remaining pairs to see who can navigate the demanding foursomes format and claim the coveted title. Whether it’s the American pair of Smalley and Springer looking to solidify their lead, the Fitzpatricks aiming to convert their momentum into a victory, or any of the other strong contenders, the final rounds promise high‑stakes golf and the potential for memorable moments in New Orleans.
For viewers, the Zurich Classic can be streamed live without a contract, and fans can also tune into the Sky Sports Golf Podcast for deeper analysis. Those interested in staying updated on the latest scores, highlights, and commentary can follow Sky Sports on WhatsApp, ensuring they never miss a beat of the action.
Beyond the competition itself, golf enthusiasts can take advantage of promotional offers to book tee times at over 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland, making it easy to experience the sport firsthand after watching the pros battle it out on the course.