This week, the PGA Tour makes one of its most distinctive stops as players arrive in New Orleans for the Zurich Classic. Held at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, this $9.5 million event is the only official team competition on the PGA Tour.
The Zurich Classic begins with the four-ball (best ball) format on the opening Thursday, before switching to foursome (alternate shot) on Friday. Following the Friday cut, the top 33 teams and ties will return to play a second round of four-ball on Saturday and a concluding foursome round on Sunday.
Teams to Watch: Defending Champs, Sibling Stars, and Major Winning Duo
With the final field confirmed, there are a few star names missing from the line-up. The most notable absentees are Masters champion Rory McIlroy, whose reduced schedule does not include this event, and Scottie Scheffler, who is also adopting a focused approach following the recent birth of his second child. Nevertheless, 74 talented two-man teams are set to tee off in what is often one of the more entertaining tournaments of the year.
Among that 74-team field, several duos catch the eye, with the following five pairings, in particular, capturing the imagination of fans.
Andrew Novak and Ben Griffin
Separated by just two years in age, North Carolina natives Novak and Griffin forged a close friendship when progressing through the junior ranks. That bond has extended into their time on the PGA Tour and was never better illustrated than in the 2025 edition of this tournament. Taking a three-shot lead into the final round following a sensational 11 under 61 on Saturday, the pair overcame a few early wobbles to hang on for a one-shot victory.
For both men, the win represented a maiden PGA Tour success. World number 16 Griffin has since added to his tally with wins at the Charles Schwab Challenge and World Wide Technology Championship. With natural chemistry and complementary games, Novak and Griffin may put up a bold defence of their title.
Shane Lowery and Brooks Koepka
The marquee pairing sees 2019 Open champion Shane Lowry team up with five-time major winner Brooks Koepka, who recently returned to the PGA Tour after ending his time with LIV Golf. Lowry is no stranger to success in this tournament, having joined forces with Rory McIlroy to claim the 2024 edition. With McIlroy unavailable, the Irishman has secured a stellar replacement.
Both men arrive in solid form, with Lowry picking up two top eight finishes already in 2026, and a motivated Koepka finishing in the top 20 in four of his last five events. If they hit it off, Lowry’s consistency, combined with Koepka’s reputation as one of the best closers in the sport, could be tough to stop.
Matt Fitzpatrick and Alex Fitzpatrick
Sheffield’s golfing siblings could scarcely arrive in better form. In March, older brother Matt grabbed a third PGA Tour title in the Valspar Championship. Just one week later, Alex claimed his first DP World Tour title with a two-shot win at the Hero Indian Open. A memorable couple of weeks for Matt and Alex, who became the first brothers to win events on the PGA and DP World Tours in back-to-back weeks.
Matt continued his outstanding recent form when mastering Scottie Scheffler in a playoff to claim the RBC Heritage for a second time last weekend. Following a T19 finish in 2023 and a T11 finish in 2024, the in-form Fitzpatrick brothers return for a third crack at the prize and they have their best chance ever of landing this trophy.
Ryan Gerard and Sudarshan Yellamaraju
The late withdrawal of David Ford left Ryan Gerard without a partner for this tournament. However, the 2025 Barracuda Championship winner has secured an able deputy in the shape of Sudarshan Yellamaraju. Born in India but raised in Canada, the 24-year-old has made an impressive start to his first season on the PGA Tour – making the cut in five of his first six starts, including top-six finishes in Houston and at THE PLAYERS Championship. Already looking like a Tour winner in waiting, this late super-sub should complement Gerard well in Louisiana.
Michael Thorbjornsen and Karl Vilips
Aussie Vilips and Cleveland’s Thorbjornsen first became friends on the junior golfing circuit and were later roommates at Stanford University. Now in the professional ranks, that bond has only strengthened. Living in the same apartment complex in Jacksonville, Florida, each labels the other as his “best friend”. The pair were inseparable in their warm-up event, with Vilips and Thorbjornsen finishing in a tie for 33rd at the RBC Heritage. Having finished T4 in their debut appearance at the 2025 edition of this event, the big-hitting duo are among the leading contenders for top spot in 2026.
The Zurich Classic of New Orleans tees off on Thursday, 23 April and after some huge events lately, comes as a nice change of pace. Fun it may be, but that does not detract from the golf, with low scores guaranteed.