Brooks Koepka and Shane Lowry will partner up for the first time as the Zurich Classic of New Orleans headlines a reshuffled team field at TPC Louisiana, with Rory McIlroy — Lowry's partner for the last two editions — opting to sit the event out.
The 2026 field has been locked in at 80 two-man teams competing over an alternating four-ball and foursomes format. It marks the first start for Koepka, the five-time major champion and LIV Golf standout who returned to PGA Tour eligibility for team events, since his tie for 12th at the Masters. He had been listed as first alternate for last week's RBC Heritage but did not crack the field, so New Orleans will be his first competitive hit-out since Augusta.
The most notable storyline in the team breakdown is the partnership itself. Lowry and McIlroy formed one of the event's most successful duos, winning in a playoff in 2023 and featuring in the mix again over the two following seasons. With McIlroy passing on this year's edition following his Masters victory, Lowry has turned to Koepka, and the pairing of a major-winning Irishman and a multi-major American LIV star immediately draws attention in an event that has otherwise leaned on the creativity of its pairings for marketing.
The Fitzpatrick brothers, Matt and Alex, will also bring a human interest storyline. Both have already won titles this season, and their sibling dynamic will play out across a format designed to reward chemistry. Matt Fitzpatrick's form is especially pointed: he led the RBC Heritage after three rounds this past Saturday at Harbour Town, carrying momentum straight into the team event.
Defending champions Ben Griffin and Andrew Novak return to try to retain their title. The 2023 winners, Davis Riley and Nick Hardy, are also back in the field as a reminder that the event rewards returning duos. Wyndham Clark and Taylor Moore form another intriguing partnership, while Tony Finau and Max Greyserman line up together against a field where Finau is looking to bounce back after chasing a Masters invitation through the Valero Texas Open without success.
The alternating format itself is the Zurich Classic's signature point of difference on the PGA Tour schedule. Four-ball rewards aggressive play from both partners, while foursomes — alternate shot — punishes any mismatch in distance control, putting or bail-out club preferences. Teams with aligned miss patterns and compatible wedge distances historically outperform those with more talent but less chemistry.
For Koepka and Lowry, that compatibility test begins immediately. Koepka, a bomber who has won majors on the back of his length and calmness under pressure, partners with Lowry, who has built his career around elite iron play and creative short-game options. On paper the fits are complementary: Lowry's iron control in foursomes could keep approach shots reliable, while Koepka's driving can set up scoring chances in four-ball.
There is no quoted commentary yet from either player on how they paired up or what the expectations are. The Zurich Classic's pre-tournament press days typically put team captains in front of microphones, so those remarks are likely still to come.
Beyond the marquee pairings, the full 80-team field includes returning contenders and first-time partnerships across every corner of the schedule. For the PGA Tour, the event remains one of the more casual stops in what is otherwise a relentlessly individualised season, and for the headline pairing of Koepka and Lowry, it is a chance to write a new storyline just two weeks after McIlroy wrote one of his own at Augusta.
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*Originally published on [Golf News Global](https://golfnews.global/article/koepka-lowry-zurich-classic-pairing). Visit for full coverage.*
