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McIlroy and Lowry Defend Zurich Classic Title in New Orleans

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3 weeks ago

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Zurich Classic Golf Tournament New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS, La. — Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry are set to return to the Zurich Classic of New Orleans next week, where they will defend their title as the reigning champions. The event, which is unique on the PGA Tour for its two-man team format, features alternating rounds of four-ball and foursomes, culminating in a playoff if necessary.

McIlroy, who recently captured the Masters title, confirmed his participation in the Zurich Classic after missing the RBC Heritage, another significant event on the calendar. He became just the sixth player in history to complete a career Grand Slam by winning at Augusta National.

“We’ll be there. I talked to him (Wednesday) morning. We’re good to go,” Lowry stated, expressing excitement over the duo’s return. The pair won the event last year in a playoff against Martin Trainer and Chad Ramey.

This year’s competition will feature a total of 80 teams, including notable players such as Collin Morikawa, who is paired with Kurt Kitayama, and the Fitzpatrick brothers — Matt and Alex. The event offers a purse of $9.2 million, with the winning pair set to earn $1,329,400 each.

The Zurich Classic stands out among PGA Tour events due to its team format, which mimics the camaraderie of weekend matches among friends rather than the traditional stroke play seen in most tournaments. Recent years show a trend of successful duos formed by long-time friends, with McIlroy and Lowry’s win last year echoing the achievements of other notable pairs like Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele who won in 2022, and Nick Hardy and Davis Riley who triumphed in 2021.

Despite no world ranking points awarded at the event, successful teams receive a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour, along with valuable FedExCup points.

The confirmed teams for the Zurich Classic of New Orleans include, among others:

As excitement builds for the Zurich Classic, all eyes will be on McIlroy and Lowry as they aim to defend their title and showcase their competitive spirit in New Orleans once again.

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