AVONDALE, Mich. — On the surface, Brooks Koepka and Shane Lowry look like a Zurich Classic pairing that will make you turn your head for a moment.
Koepka is a five-time major champion, but his career has taken some unexpected turns recently. He’s now back on the PGA Tour, but still has a complicated path to the biggest event. Lowry is a solid Irishman who won the event in 2024 with Rory McIlroy and has been a sire for the European Ryder Cup team for 10 years.
Brooks Koepka and Shane Lowry on Wednesday before the 2026 Zurich Classic of New Orleans at TPC Louisiana.
Koepka walks all over the course, almost with a swagger, but his powerful frame makes him look like he could be an outside linebacker or fullback instead of an elite golfer at Florida State. Lowry, well…it doesn’t look like that. Dressed in all black most days, his slightly soft exterior and quick laugh, it should be said, hide his talent and creepy short game.
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This duo isn’t what anyone expected, but like most matches at the Zurich Classic in New Orleans, the story behind this duo is a little more layered than it first appears.
“From the outside it may not seem like it means anything, but to us it does,” Lowry said. “I think we have a good relationship, ball and everything about it. We’re going to have a good time there.”
Lowry and Koepka both use Srixon balls, Lowry a Z-Star XV and Koepka a Z-Star Diamond, so each round of foursomes means each is familiar with the behavior of their teammates’ balls.
Shane Lowry and Brooks Koepka will team up to compete in the 2026 Zurich Classic.
“We’ve been friends for years,” Koepka said. “I think a lot of people forget, we all live within maybe 15 minutes of each other in Jupiter, Fla., and we all play the same golf course, so we see each other almost every other day. I mean, there’s not a day that goes by that I don’t see a guy here. So there’s always conversation. There’s always people talking, eating lunch, doing things, practicing together. It happens a lot more often than people realize.”
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According to both players, the partnership came to fruition in typical fashion this week. It wasn’t driven by analytical models or long-term strategy sessions. Rather, it was about timing, familiarity, and a shared understanding of what the event required.
With McIlroy opting to forego the trip to miss this year’s tournament, Lowry needed a partner. Koepka, on the other hand, needed a chance. And for him, this brings more than just a chance to win a trophy.
more: Brandt Brandt Snedeker balances Zurich Classic and Presidents Cup roles
Because while the Zurich Classic has a reputation as the Tour’s most relaxed venue, the stakes for Koepka are not light. A win this week would unlock a two-year exemption from the PGA Tour, as well as access to the marquee event with limited fields and the $20 million purse that defines the modern tour schedule.
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It was the missing piece since he returned from LIV Golf.
Koepka has already experienced what that looks like from the outside. Last week at Havertown, he was on call as RBC Heritage’s first alternate, hoping for a late withdrawal, but that didn’t happen. It was a reminder that despite his resume, nothing is guaranteed at this point.
Victory changes that instantly.
2026 U.S. Presidents Cup team captain Brandt Snedeker said earlier this week that while the two players look like an ideal match on paper, if the personalities don’t match, the fit isn’t right. Seeing Koepka and Lowry standing together, they don’t seem to have that problem.
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They are different people, but both are happy with themselves. Both players have played in high-pressure team environments. Both have won major championships. And both understand that this week requires a slightly different mindset, one that relies on trust as well as execution.
This may not be the most obvious combination, but it’s one that many think has the potential to be high on Sunday’s leaderboard.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Shane Lowry and Brooks Koepka team up for 2026 Zurich Classic
