Venue: TPC Louisiana, Avondale (New Orleans), Louisiana Start Time (Round 1): Thursday, April 23 at 3 p.m. ET (Golf Channel) Format: Two‑man team event — Fourball (Thu/Sat) & Foursomes (Fri/Sun) Purse: $9.5 million
Venue & Course Conditions
TPC Louisiana is a 7,425‑yard, par‑72 Pete Dye design built across wetlands, with water hazards and deep bunkers that reward aggressive play but punish misses. It is historically one of the more scoreable courses on the PGA Tour.
Expected Weather (Seasonal Inference)
Late April in New Orleans typically brings mid‑70s temperatures, moderate humidity, and light winds. Rain is always possible in the Gulf region, but historically the Zurich Classic often plays on soft‑to‑firm conditions depending on showers earlier in the week. (Weather inferred; not provided in sources.)
Tournament History
The Zurich Classic has been played since 1958, but became a team event in 2017, the only FedExCup event using a two‑man format.
2025 Champions: Ben Griffin & Andrew Novak (returning to defend)
2024 Champions: Shane Lowry & Rory McIlroy (Lowry returns; McIlroy does not)
Key Teams & Player Matchups
Matt Fitzpatrick & Alex Fitzpatrick
Both brothers enter in strong form, with Matt ranked No. 3 in the world after multiple 2026 wins. They are among the co‑favorites.
Brooks Koepka & Shane Lowry
Lowry, a past Zurich winner, teams with Koepka this year. They are listed as co‑favorites at +1200.
Ben Griffin & Andrew Novak (Defending Champions)
Returning after their breakthrough 2025 win. Odds place them at +2000, fourth on the board.
Karl Vilips & Michael Thorbjornsen
Young rising stars with strong model projections and +1800 odds.
Aaron Rai & Sahith Theegala
A model‑favored sleeper team expected to outperform their odds.
Recent Player Form & Trends
Matt Fitzpatrick
One of the hottest players on Tour:
Wins: RBC Heritage, Valspar Championship
Runner‑up: The Players
T18: Masters
Shane Lowry
Former Zurich champion; consistent in team formats.
Brooks Koepka
Multiple‑major champion replacing McIlroy in Lowry’s pairing.
Format Impact on Matchups
Because the event alternates between Fourball (low scoring) and Foursomes (high volatility), teams with:
Elite ball‑striking (Koepka/Lowry, Fitzpatrick brothers)
Chemistry and consistency (Griffin/Novak)
Strong alternate‑shot discipline (Rai/Theegala)
tend to gain an edge.
Projected Contenders
1. Koepka / Lowry — Power + precision + team experience 2. Fitzpatrick / Fitzpatrick — Red‑hot form, elite tee‑to‑green 3. Rai / Theegala — Model‑favored value team 4. Griffin / Novak — Defending champions with proven chemistry
