Additional Coverage:
- Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick arrive in form for a brotherly bid to win the PGA Tour’s Zurich Classic (nbcsports.com)
AVONDALE, La. – Brothers Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick are aiming to seize a rare chance to claim a PGA Tour title together at this week’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
The English siblings have both been in strong form recently, and this year’s field is somewhat less stacked with marquee names due to a congested PGA Tour schedule. Matt, currently ranked third in the world after his RBC Heritage win, expressed confidence: “It’s been a nice start to the year for both of us.
Our expectations are higher given the form we’ve shown. We feel like we have as good a chance as anyone.”
The Zurich Classic remains the Tour’s only official team event and is positioned amid a demanding six-week stretch that includes two majors-the Masters and the PGA Championship-as well as three high-profile signature tournaments at Harbour Town, Doral, and Quail Hollow. This scheduling challenge has led some top players to skip the New Orleans event to avoid playing six consecutive weeks or missing out on limited-field, lucrative events.
Still, the tournament features a solid lineup of 74 two-man teams, including notable pairings such as Shane Lowry and Brooks Koepka. Lowry, who won the Zurich with Rory McIlroy two years ago, is now teaming with Koepka, the five-time major champion returning to the PGA Tour after competing on the LIV Golf circuit. “We’re going to have a good bit of fun out there,” Lowry said, praising Koepka’s iron play.
The tournament format mixes better-ball play during the first and third rounds-where each player plays their own ball and the team takes the best score per hole-with the more challenging alternate-shot format in rounds two and four.
Defending champions Ben Griffin and Andrew Novak return to defend their title, joined by other strong duos like former U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark paired with Taylor Moore, and Billy Horschel-who holds the unique distinction of winning the Zurich in both individual and team formats-teaming with Tom Hoge. The field also includes PGA Tour winners Sahith Theegala and Aaron Rai, and six-time Tour winner Tony Finau partnering with Max Greyserman.
Griffin highlighted the depth of talent, noting, “Everyone on the PGA Tour or with a conditional card is incredibly talented. Maybe they just haven’t broken through yet.”
Griffin himself first won on Tour at the Zurich Classic, a breakthrough that propelled him to two more victories and a place on last year’s U.S. Ryder Cup team.
Matt Fitzpatrick arrives in New Orleans on the heels of a playoff victory over world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler at Hilton Head, marking his second win this season after capturing the Valspar Championship in March. Meanwhile, Alex celebrated his first European Tour title earlier this year at the Indian Open.
The Zurich Classic presents the Fitzpatrick brothers’ singular opportunity to compete together on the PGA Tour each year, having played as a team the past three seasons. Their best finish to date was 11th in 2024; last year, they missed the cut.
“Last year, we weren’t really playing at our best coming into the event, so it felt a little stressful,” Alex Fitzpatrick said. “This year, with the form we’re both in, expectations are higher, but it also takes some pressure off because we can just enjoy the week.”
The only minor setback during the pro-am was Matt checking the score of their favorite soccer team, Sheffield United, which suffered a 3-1 loss to Blackburn. “Hopefully, we don’t play like them,” Alex joked.
While the Zurich Classic does not grant Masters invitations to the winning team, champions earn official PGA Tour victories and a two-year exemption. Alex, who is not yet a full-time PGA Tour member, acknowledged the stakes: “That’s something I’d be thinking about if we’re in contention coming down the stretch on Sunday.”
For Koepka, a strong performance could boost his ranking enough to secure entry into upcoming signature events, as he currently holds alternate status for Harbour Town.
Griffin and Novak, embracing their role as defending champions, enjoyed seeing their images displayed around the TPC Louisiana course. “We’re familiar with the golf course, like the vibe, and play well together,” Griffin said. “It’ll be fun to defend for the first time.”
Novak added with a grin, “I don’t usually show up to tournaments as the betting favorite.”