McIlroy’s Eagle Seals Thrilling Final Round at Zurich Classic

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana — Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry returned to the course on Saturday at the Zurich Classic after a weather delay, and McIlroy sealed their comeback with a stunning eagle putt from 35 feet on the 18th hole. This accomplishment sets the stage for an exciting final round of alternate shot play.

After a lunch break caused by rain, McIlroy said he focused on enjoying the moment rather than overthinking his game. “I had a bit of lunch and we were watching some highlights from last year… the last thing on my mind during the delay was the putt,” McIlroy explained. “It was just a bonus for it to go in.”

This marks McIlroy’s first appearance since winning the Masters and having Lowry alongside him has been a source of comfort. As Lowry remarked, “If he’s not relaxed and happy now, he never will be.” The two golfers are among the favorites, but a host of other players are also in contention.

At the top of the leaderboard, Andrew Novak and Ben Griffin lead by three strokes with a score of 27 under par after shooting an impressive 61 in Saturday’s best-ball format. Novak is eager for his first PGA Tour victory after a near miss last week.

In second place, Jake Knapp and Frankie Capan III both delivered strong performances, with a best-ball score of 60 to move to 24 under par. “Getting along with the guy you’re playing with is really important,” Knapp said, highlighting the camaraderie that can make or break a team.

Close on their heels is the duo of Ryo Hisatsune and Takumi Kanaya, also at 24 under after matching scores of 61 on Saturday. Isaiah Salinda and Kevin Velo are right behind, sitting at 23 under par.

As for Sunday’s strategy, McIlroy emphasized that having fun is their priority: “As long as we keep having fun out there, that’ll be the best way for us to get the best out of ourselves.” There will be plenty of excitement in the final round as past champions like Martin Trainer and Chad Ramey demonstrated last year, shifting the leaderboard dramatically with their strong finish.

As the teams prepare for their last round, Nicolai Højgaard noted the different dynamic of alternate shot play, saying, “It’s always nice to have someone next to you that has your back.”

With the lead changing hands and the competition fierce, the final round promises to deliver thrills for golf fans everywhere.