The PGA Tour’s only team event, the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, returns this week, with Shane Lowry and Brooks Koepka among the duos battling it out for the title. With the Masters now in the rearview mirror and two signature events plus the PGA Championship approaching in rapid succession, it’s time for some fun and games on tour, as pairs compete for the crown.
The event offers a welcome break from the individual strokeplay format that dominates the rest of the season, and it has proven a hit with fans over the years, particularly when Lowry and Rory McIlroy treated the crowd to a karaoke performance following their 2024 victory.
Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s event…
What is the Zurich Classic format?
The tournament utilizes a stroke-play format, featuring alternating rounds of four-ball and foursomes. The first and third rounds will be four-balls, where each player plays their own ball, and the lowest score from each team on every hole is recorded.
The second and fourth rounds will be foursomes, with teammates playing the same ball and taking alternate shots. The format encourages teams to play aggressively in four-balls to maximize scoring opportunities, while focusing on avoiding big numbers during the alternate shot rounds.
Should the tournament end in a tie, a sudden-death playoff will determine the winner, which is precisely how Lowry and McIlroy edged out Chad Ramey and Martin Trainer back in 2024.
How is the prize money split at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans?
A purse of $9.5 million is on the line in the Bayou, with the winners dividing $1.37 million. The runners-up will share $560,500, while third place will split $366,937.
The prize money structure differs from a typical PGA Tour event. This week, the percentages of prize money assigned to first and second place have been consolidated and will be shared with the victorious team. The same approach will be applied for all teams that finish above the cut line, established at the top 33 teams and ties.
The process is identical for FedEx Cup points, with the 500 and 300-point allocations for first and second place merged, meaning members of the winning team will receive 400 FedEx Cup points each.
What teams are participating in the 2026 Zurich Classic of New Orleans?
For the past two years, Lowry and McIlroy have been the marquee pairing in Louisiana, capturing the title in 2024 before finishing tied for 12th a year ago. Coming off his victory at Augusta National, McIlroy is sitting out this year’s tournament, but Lowry has secured another high-profile teammate in five-time major champion Koepka.
Defending champions Ben Griffin and Andrew Novak return this year, as do the sibling duo of Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick. Promising talents Luke Clanton and Blades Brown have been paired together, as have fellow rising stars Karl Vilips and Michael Thorbjornsen. Tony Finau will take to the course alongside Max Greyserman, while 2023 U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark will compete alongside Taylor Moore.