Take a breather as the PGA Tour switches gears this week with the 2026 Zurich Classic. The only non-stroke play event on the Tour’s calendar, the Zurich Classic welcomes teams of two to TPC Louisiana, an annual team-style event that determines the most valuable duos in the field.
Teams play four-ball (best ball) in rounds 1 and 3 and foursomes (alternative shot) in rounds 2 and 4. Thursdays and Saturdays tend to have scores in the low 60s, while Fridays and Sundays require strong performances above 70s.
While Rory McIlroy is still celebrating his Masters win, Shane Lowry is looking in Brooks Koepka’s direction for a partnership this week. Lowry hasn’t won on the PGA Tour since winning the title here two years ago, but Koepka remains looking for his first win on the PGA Tour.
This week is especially important for Koepka. That’s because he was RBC Heritage’s first alternate and remained on the outside for the high-profile event. With two more games scheduled two weeks before the PGA Championship, the five-time major champion will be hoping for a strong performance and perhaps a victory that will be the springboard to a second major championship of the season.
One player who won’t need a catalyst is world No. 3 Matt Fitzpatrick, who will team up again with his brother Alex. While Fitzpatrick’s victory at the RBC Heritage vaulted him to the highest position of his career in the Official World Golf Rankings, he must not forget about his younger brother, who won the Indian Open in his last start on the DP World Tour.
2026 Zurich Classic Schedule
date: April 23rd to 26th
position: TPC Louisiana — Avondale, Louisiana
Par: 72 | Yardage: 7,425 | Architect: Pete Dye
wallet: $9.5 million
2026 Zurich Classic Stadium, odds
Odds from FanDuel Sportsbook
- Matt Fitzpatrick & Alex Fitzpatrick (12-1): The Fitzpatrick brothers are officially the favorites this week, and for good reason. Both players have won their last starts, and this will be their fourth appearance together. Before missing out on last year’s tournament, Matt and Alex had two consecutive top-20 finishes, including a T11 in 2024. Matt is as accomplished as ever, and Alex is known for his accuracy off the tee and his acumen around the greens. If they can hole their putts consistently, they will be hard to beat.
- Brooks Koepka & Shane Lowry (15-1): Even with six major championships between them, Koepka and Lowry are both likely to take advantage of the win. Lowry acquitted himself well through the three days of the Masters, but on Sunday at Augusta National he failed to break 80 points for the second straight tournament. Meanwhile, Koepka is also in great form and just needs an extra kick in the right direction to qualify for a signature event. The question for this group is simple…who will make the putt?
- Sudarshan Yelamaraju & Ryan Gerard (15-1): It’s a fun duo. Gerrard was originally linked with David Ford’s Tar Heels, but left, but last month linked up with perhaps the most high-profile left-hander. While Yelamaraju has finished T5, T6 and T14 in three of his last four starts, Gerard continues to display elite-level ball-striking. Gerrard won the Barracuda Championship last season and is aiming for his second career win on the PGA Tour, but that second win won’t come in the stroke play format.
- Johnny Keefer & Michael Brennan (20-1): These two players will need a total of three clubs: a driver, wedge, and putter. There’s probably no one on the team longer than Kiefer and Brennan, and both players have shined in recent weeks. Brennan finished inside the top 25 in his Masters debut and was one of the early leaders at RBC Heritage, while Kiefer posted a top-five finish a few weeks before the season’s first major championship. They will be able to get a birdie in a four-ball format, but the alternative shots immediately raise questions.
- Michael Thorbjornsen & Karl Willips (22-1)
- Aaron Rai & Sahit Segala (22-1): This team is going to do the job. Lai has competed in the Zurich Classic four times and has recorded four top-25 finishes, and his game is as consistent as ever. Segala, on the other hand, has achieved similar results in two of the past three performances, and will approach the event with a new mindset. Segala may not have qualified for the Masters, but he finished in the top 10 at Houston and just finished in the top 25 again at Hilton Head. Rai’s results have yet to materialize, but his accuracy off the tee and solid approach play make him an asset in this format.
- Andrew Novak & Ben Griffin (22-1)
- Haotong Li & Jordan Smith (22-1)
- Taylor Moore & Windham Clark (25-1)
- Marco Penge & Matt Wallace (25-1)
