'He's a very good player, I'm going there to win': Shane Lowry teams ...
Rory McIlroy opts to skip Zurich Classic of New Orleans
www.irishtimes.comHere’s the latest on Shane Lowry and Brooks Koepka’s Zurich Classic pairing.
- They teamed up for the Zurich Classic of New Orleans in 2026 after a casual conversation at Grove XXIII, with Lowry seeking a partner when Rory McIlroy wasn’t available this year.[1][5]
- The pairing drew interest because Koepka was trying to rebuild his PGA Tour status after returning from LIV, making a week-to-week start more valuable for him.[2][1]
- Multiple outlets framed the partnership as a pragmatic, friendship-based choice that could yield a strong Ryder Cup-style pairing, given their long-standing relationship and complementary games.[7][8]
- Early reporting suggested they entered as favorites for the event, given their familiarity and Koepka’s experience with Lowry’s game, though results and performance would determine if that expectation held.[9][7]
Illustration: The Zurich Classic uses a two-man team format with alternating rounds of four-ball and foursomes, so their familiarity could translate into strategic synergy on complex courses like TPC Louisiana.[1][2]
Would you like a quick snapshot of their results at Zurich Classic 2026 (scores, rounds, and final standing), or a short read on how their styles mesh for this format? I can pull a concise summary with key numbers.[2][7][1]