Shane Lowry and Brooks Koepka, two of the most recognizable names on the PGA Tour, were unable to survive the cut at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, missing the benchmark by a single stroke. Their elimination came after a promising start that saw the duo post solid scores in the opening rounds, but ultimately fell just short of the nine‑under‑par line required to continue into the weekend. Lowry entered the event as a former champion; he captured the Zurich Classic title two years earlier when he paired with fellow Irishman Rory McIlroy. This year, however, McIlroy was absent, leaving Lowry to join forces with five‑time major winner Brooks Koepka.
The new partnership began brightly, as the pair recorded a 66 in the Thursday four‑ball round, followed by a 69 in the Friday foursomes. Those two rounds left them at nine under par after 36 holes, a single shot away from the cut line that was set at ten under. Meanwhile, English brothers Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick were making a strong charge up the leaderboard. On Friday, the siblings posted a seven‑under‑par 65, which vaulted them into a tie for second place after the first two rounds.
Their momentum was reinforced by the American duo of Alex Smalley and Hayden Springer, who maintained the lead with a 70 that brought them to 16 under, a full shot ahead of the Fitzpatricks and two other pairs. Going into the Saturday foursomes, the Fitzpatricks were six strokes behind the leaders but responded with the lowest round of the day, narrowing the gap to just one shot heading into the final round. A victory in New Orleans would cap an extraordinary few months for the Fitzpatrick family.
Matt, who has recently ascended to a career‑high world ranking of No. 3, secured two notable wins – the Valspar Championship and the RBC Heritage, where he bested world No.
1 Scottie Scheffler in a dramatic playoff. His younger brother Alex, meanwhile, has continued his upward trajectory after capturing his first DP World Tour title at the Hero Indian Open in March.
The brothers had also competed together at the Zurich Classic last year, but missed the cut by two strokes. Other teams tied with the Fitzpatricks for second place included Davis Thompson paired with Austin Eckroat, as well as the pairing of Billy Horschel and Tom Hoge, all sitting at 15 under. Englishman Aaron Rai, playing alongside American Sahith Theegala, was also in the mix at 12 under, while fellow English players Matt Wallace and Marco Penge were just a shot further back at 11 under.
The Zurich Classic is unique on the PGA Tour as the only official team competition. The format alternates between four‑ball (where each player plays their own ball and the lower score on each hole counts) for the first and third rounds, and foursomes (alternate‑shot) for the second and final rounds.
After the initial two rounds, the top 33 teams and any ties advance to the weekend. If a tie remains after the 72‑hole total, a sudden‑death playoff determines the champion. This year the event featured an increased purse, rising from $9.2 million to $9.5 million, a change announced by PGA Tour officials to reward the growing popularity of the team format.
The winning team will split roughly 14.45 percent of the total prize pool, which translates to about $1.372 million per player. In addition to the monetary reward, each member of the victorious squad will earn 400 FedExCup points, although no Official World Golf Ranking points are awarded for the event.
Beyond the immediate financial and points incentives, the champions will also secure coveted exemptions for the 2027 season, including invitations to The Players Championship, the PGA Championship, and an automatic entry to the Zurich Classic for the next two years. These perks provide a valuable springboard for the winning duo to plan their schedules and target the sport’s most prestigious tournaments. The failure of Lowry and Koepka to make the cut was a disappointment for fans who had anticipated a compelling storyline between a former champion and a multiple‑major winner. Their combined nine‑under‑par total after two rounds suggested they could be competitive, but the cut line proved unforgiving.
Their exit underscores the unpredictable nature of the team format, where chemistry and strategic decision‑making can be just as critical as individual skill. As the tournament moves into its decisive final day, the Fitzpatrick brothers are positioned as the team to watch. Their blend of experience, recent form, and familial synergy could prove decisive, especially if they can capitalize on the momentum generated by their impressive low rounds. Meanwhile, the American pair of Smalley and Springer will be eager to protect their lead, aiming to finish the week as the first team to lift the Zurich Classic trophy under the new, richer prize structure.
The competition also highlights the growing depth of international talent on the PGA Tour, with multiple English, American, and European teams vying for the top spot. For spectators, the blend of individual excellence and team strategy offers a fresh viewing experience, reinforcing the Zurich Classic’s reputation as a highlight of the tour calendar.
Fans can continue to follow the action through live streams, podcasts, and regular updates from sports broadcasters, ensuring that the drama of the final rounds will be captured in real time for a global audience.