{"id":59163,"date":"2026-05-02T23:42:57","date_gmt":"2026-05-02T23:42:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/59163\/"},"modified":"2026-05-02T23:42:57","modified_gmt":"2026-05-02T23:42:57","slug":"fitzpatrick-brothers-magical-pga-tour-season-takes-another-turn-with-zurich-classic-win","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/59163\/","title":{"rendered":"Fitzpatrick brothers\u2019 magical PGA Tour season takes another turn with Zurich Classic win"},"content":{"rendered":"

There may be no two parents having a better month than Russell and Susan Fitzpatrick.<\/p>\n

Sure, their U.S. Open-winning eldest son, Matt, was already re-staking his claim as a top-tier player. He\u2019s been one of the main characters of this PGA Tour season, losing the Players Championship on the final hole only to win the Valspar a week later before taking down Scottie Scheffler just seven days ago in Hilton Head. He\u2019s now the No. 3 player in the world.<\/p>\n

But Sunday? Sunday was different.<\/p>\n

Because on the 18th green at TPC Louisiana, a giddily cheesing Matt Fitzpatrick outstretched his arms to find his 27-year-old little brother, Alex, hands in his face, coming to terms with the fact that he just earned a PGA Tour card.<\/p>\n

They didn\u2019t make it easy \u2014 giving away a four-shot lead with messy play on the back nine \u2014 yet those struggles served as prologue to Matt\u2019s epic bunker shot on 18 and a tap-in putt by Alex to win the Zurich Classic on Sunday. The lone team event on the PGA Tour was just won by two brothers, wrapping up perhaps the month of their lives.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think that\u2019s as good as it gets, isn\u2019t it?\u201d Alex said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I mean, it\u2019s hard to describe,\u201d Matt joined in.<\/p>\n

GOLF SHOT!<\/p>\n

Matt Fitzpatrick plays it beautifully to set up for birdie and the win @Zurich_Classic<\/a>. pic.twitter.com\/FAnaC08xEE<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 26, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the last five weeks for the Fitzpatrick family. It\u2019s even better than you realize.<\/p>\n

\u2022 March 15: Matt Fitzpatrick finishes second at the Players.<\/p>\n

\u2022 March 22: Matt wins the Valspar Championship<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2022 March 29: Alex wins the Hero Indian Open, his first career European Tour win.<\/p>\n

\u2022 March 31: Matt and his wife, Katherine, announce they\u2019re expecting their first child.<\/p>\n

\u2022 April 19: Matt wins the RBC Heritage<\/a>, a signature event, for a second win in three starts.<\/p>\n

\u2022 April 26: The Fitzpatrick brothers win the Zurich together, and Alex accepts an invitation to join the PGA Tour.<\/p>\n

Yes, everything is coming up Fitzpatrick.<\/p>\n

Alex has always maintained a complicated relationship with being the younger brother of an international star, one filled with both joy and frustration. He\u2019s been present for so much of Matt\u2019s rise, even caddying for Matt when he broke on the scene by winning the 2013 U.S. Amateur. Matt then won the 2022 U.S. Open at Brookline, and every spring since, Alex has drawn attention by playing the Zurich Classic with Matt, politely but begrudgingly answering questions about being the less-talented brother.<\/p>\n

Back then, he was playing on the European development tour and ranked No. 705 in the world. But Netflix documentary cameras followed as Alex earned his way into the 2023 Open Championship and pulled off an impressive T17. And quietly in the three years since, Alex has improved from a golfer on the fringes to a 27-year-old ranked No. 101 in the world on DataGolf.<\/p>\n

On the back nine Sunday, it was Alex who kept the Fitzpatrick brothers afloat.<\/p>\n

The duo entered the final round with a four-shot lead after a record-breaking 57 in fourball Saturday. But on No. 12, Matt\u2019s drive left Alex behind a tree, and Alex\u2019s punch out went right into another tree to set up a double bogey. Then, on 13, Matt\u2019s short wedge shot flew the green by 60 feet. Alex hit a masterful chip to save par, but Matt put his tee shot into a bunker for a bogey a hole later.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a struggle,\u201d Matt said with a laugh. \u201cI was doing absolutely zero to help him. Apart from the putt I made on 15 there, I wasn\u2019t really providing much support.\u201d<\/p>\n

They entered the par-5 18th hole all tied up. So it was all too perfect on 18, standing in the greenside bunker with his brother\u2019s PGA Tour hopes on the line, that Matt hit an unbelievable spinny pitch that stuck two feet from the pin. Not only did Matt hit the incredible shot to possibly set his brother up for life-changing opportunities, but he also made it so Alex could tap in the final putt.<\/p>\n

For Matt, it just adds one more chapter to the best few months of his career. Even when he won the U.S. Open and made four European Ryder Cup teams, he was a very good but limited player. Right now, with three wins in four starts and a runner-up at the Players, he\u2019s the hottest golfer in the world.<\/p>\n

But let\u2019s be honest. Sunday was hardly about Matt. It was about Matt and Alex, two brothers who had their moment in the spotlight.<\/p>\n

And if you\u2019re wondering if there\u2019s any ambiguity about whether or not Alex will accept the Tour invite, don\u2019t fret.<\/p>\n

\u201cI signed as quick as I could,\u201d Alex said. \u201cI\u2019m still shaking, yeah, it was crazy.\u201d<\/p>\n