Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick fired a record 15-under 57 in four-ball play to grab a four-shot lead at the Zurich Classic.
Matt Fitzpatrick and Alex Fitzpatrick turned Saturday at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans into a family takeover.
The English brothers shot a tournament-record 15-under 57 in four-ball play at TPC Louisiana, moving to 30-under 186 through 54 holes and building a four-shot lead entering Sunday’s final round of the PGA TOUR’s only team event.
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Matt Fitzpatrick arrived in New Orleans as one of golf’s hottest players, and he didn’t cool off. Coming off two spring victories, including last week’s win at Harbour Town Golf Links, he helped set the tone immediately with a chip-in birdie on the first hole. He later poured in a 33 1/2-foot eagle putt on the par-5 seventh.
The shot that helped separate the Fitzpatricks came at No. 12, where Matt stuck a 210-yard approach to 4 feet. That birdie gave the brothers a lead they never gave back.
Alex Fitzpatrick, meanwhile, showed he wasn’t just along for the ride. The DP World Tour player drove the green at the par-4 eighth with a 325-yard tee shot, chipped in for birdie at No. 16 and made an 18-foot birdie putt on the par-3 17th. He also reached the par-5 18th in two, setting up one final birdie on a blistering back nine.
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Alex Smalley and Hayden Springer shot 62 and sit tied for second with Davis Thompson and Austin Eckroat. Doug Ghim and Jeffrey Kang posted 61 and are five shots back.
After storms softened the course, scoring conditions were ideal most of the day. The Fitzpatrick brothers took full advantage, and now Alex is one round away from his first PGA TOUR title — with Matt trying to keep his heater rolling.
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