Zurich Classic of New Orleans 2026 preview, picks & analysis

Twelve months ago Ben Griffin was an unknown on the PGA Tour. The Zurich Classic of New Orleans changed all that as he and partner Andrew Novak secured their maiden victories.

Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry faltered in their bid to win back-to-back titles. Starting the alternate-shot final round five shots off the lead, McIlroy and Lowry shot two-under 34 on the front nine, but stumbled with bogeys at 13, 15 and 17 after play resumed following a 90-minute weather delay.

With a birdie on the last, McIlroy and Lowry carded a closing even-par 72 to finish in a tie for 12th. As McIlroy, playing for the first time since winning the Masters for the first time, and Lowry faded on the back nine, a three-way battle emerged in the closing stages.

Novak and Griffin, who held a three-shot lead after three rounds, finished strongly to clinch a one-shot win over Danish twins Nicolai and Rasmus Hojgaard. The overnight leaders were tied at -27 with another American pair in Jake Knapp and Frankie Capan III before a decisive two-shot swing on the par-three 17th.

While Knapp and Capan III made bogey after finding water, Griffin holed a superb birdie putt from the back of the green to establish a two-stroke cushion with one hole left.

The Hojgaard brothers birdied the par-five 18th to card a four-under 68, but finished one shot shy as Novak and Griffin made par for a winning 71.

It was a particularly satisfying victory for Novak, who lost to Justin Thomas in a play-off at the previous week's RBC Heritage. 

The win would open the door for Griffin, who also claimed the Charles Schwab Challenge and World Wide Technology Championship and made his Ryder Cup debut in September.

Unsurprisingly, the pair will be back to defend their title this week, but Lowry has been forced to find a new partner as McIlroy has decided to give this week a miss. And the Irishman heads into the week alongside Brooks Koepka.

Koepka is gradually starting to find his feet on the PGA Tour once again after quitting LIV Golf. He remains a superb ball striker but has struggled on the greens since his return. However, there were some hugely encouraging signs at The Masters, where Koepka spent much of the week on the fringes of contention and put together four extremely consistent rounds. In partnership with Lowry, this could be the week that Koepka returns to the winners circle.

Keep an eye out too for the Fitzpatrick brothers, Matthew and Alex. Matt is, of course, a proven winner. He is a former US Open champion who spent some time in the wilderness but is now back to his brilliant best. He has won twice on the PGA Tour in recent weeks (including on Sunday at Harbour Town) and young brother Alex, after knocking on the door and coming so close so many times has also now recorded his maiden DP World Tour title. These two could be worth watching.

Other eye-catching pairs include Jordan Smith and Haotong Li, Erik van Rooyen and Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Michael Brennan and Johnny Keefer and Chris Kirk and Patton Kizzire.

Haotong Li is a golfer who can make birdies for fun. But things can also go horribly wrong. He was in the mix in the final round of The Masters until he came to the 12th, where he put a ball in the water and ran up a triple-bogey six - and followed it with a TEN at the par-five 13th. Li and Smith are likely to enjoy a rollercoaster ride in New Orleans and will either contend or finish last. But it will be lots of fun to watch.

Tournament Winners:

The tournament first became a team event in 2017, when it was won by Cameron Smith and Jonas Blixt, it was won in 2018 by Billy Horschel and Scott Piercy, in 2019 by Jon Rahm and Ryan Palmer, in 2021 by Cameron Smith and Marc Leishman, in 2022 by Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele, in 2023 by Davis Riley and Nick Hardy, in 2024 by Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry and last year by Ben Griffin and Andrew Novak. It wasn’t played in 2020 because of the pandemic.

The Course:

TPC Louisiana is located 15 minutes from New Orleans. It is a par 72 that measures 7,425 yards. The course record of 62 was set by Ben Martin in 2014. It was designed by Pete Dye, Steve Elkington and Kelly Gibson. It stretches over 250 acres of wetlands along the Mississippi River Delta and features plenty of water hazards, more than 100 bunkers, and plenty of cypress and oak trees.

Form Guide:

Shane Lowry and Brooks Koepka look like a match made in heaven.

Prize Money:

The winners will each take home around $1.25m and 400 FedEx Cup points.

How to Watch:

Thursday, April 23, Sky Sports Golf, 1pm; Friday, April 24, Sky Sports Golf, 1.45pm; Saturday, April 25, Sky Sports Golf, 2pm; Sunday, April 26, Sky Sports Golf, 2pm.

To Win:

Brooks Koepka and Shane Lowry. Out to have fun

Each Way:

Andrew Novak and Ben Griffin. Will be lots of birdies

Each Way:

Haotong Li and Jordan Smith. Anything could happen

Five to Follow:

Brooks Koepka and Shane Lowry. Will be hard to beat

Andrew Novak and Ben Griffin. Must fancy their chances again

Haotong Li and Jordan Smith. Light the blue touchpaper

Aaron Rai and Sahith Theegala. Could be a fun pair to watch

Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick. Brothers in arms