The Zurich Classic returns with a stacked field, hot teams, FedExCup stakes, and a unique format that could shake up the PGA TOUR race.
The 2026 Zurich Classic of New Orleans is back, and the PGA TOUR’s only official team event arrives with plenty of intrigue.
With the Cadillac Championship, FedExCup points, and several star pairings all in focus, this week at TPC Louisiana feels bigger than just a fun change of pace.
The format alone makes it one of the most unpredictable stops on the schedule, mixing best-ball and alternate-shot over four rounds.
A lot of attention will follow Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick, and for good reason.
Matt is coming off a playoff win at the RBC Heritage and has already added the Valspar Championship to his 2026 tally, pushing him to No. 3 in the Official World Golf Ranking.
Alex enters with momentum of his own after grabbing his first DP World Tour title earlier this year. They’ll be one of the headline teams in a field loaded with proven winners and rising talent.
Another duo worth watching is defending champions Ben Griffin and Andrew Novak. They’ll try to become the first team to successfully defend the title in this event’s current pairs era.
Griffin has built on last year’s breakthrough by adding two more PGA TOUR wins since then, while Novak has stayed steady with two top-20 finishes in his last three starts.
There’s also buzz around Brooks Koepka and Shane Lowry, a pairing that brings major pedigree and recent form.
Koepka returns to this event for the first time since 2019 and has posted four top-20 finishes in his last five starts, including a tie for 12th at the Masters.
The stakes are real beyond the trophy. The winning side gets 400 FedExCup points, and players on the bubble are chasing spots through the Aon Swing 5 and Aon Next 10.
On a course known for birdies, water trouble, and volatility, New Orleans should deliver another wild week.
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