The 2026 Zurich Classic of New Orleans is the PGA Tour’s only official team event and 80 two‑man partnerships head to TPC Louisiana for four days of four‑ball and foursomes action.
The tournament takes place from April 23-26 at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, just outside New Orleans, with the Pete Dye design again providing a risk‑reward stage for some of the game’s biggest names.
Defending champions Ben Griffin and Andrew Novak return after claiming their maiden PGA Tour titles together here in 2025, when they posted 28‑under‑par with rounds of 61 and 62 in four‑ball to win by one.
Since switching to its current team format in 2017, the Zurich Classic roll of honour has included pairings such as Patrick Cantlay/Xander Schauffele, Ryan Palmer/Jon Rahm, Marc Leishman/Cameron Smith, Nick Hardy/Davis Riley and Rory McIlroy/Shane Lowry.
The Zurich Classic features 80 two‑man teams playing 72 holes of stroke play, with a cut to the top 33 teams and ties after 36 holes.
Rounds one and three are played as four‑ball (better ball), while rounds two and four switch to foursomes (alternate shot), creating big swings on the leaderboard and placing a premium on chemistry and ball‑striking.
Historically, four‑ball days produce very low scores, while the alternate‑shot rounds are where contenders separate themselves with disciplined tee‑to‑green play in the 2026 PGA Tour event.
Current Zurich Classic Of New Orleans 2026 Betting Odds
Leading Contenders: Team Profiles & Chances
Matt Fitzpatrick / Alex Fitzpatrick
Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick arrive as rightful favourites after a superb run of form that has seen the brothers both win in recent months.
Matt, a major champion and multiple PGA Tour winner including at last week’s RCB Heritage, remains one of the most reliable ball‑strikers on tour, combining elite driving with tidy scrambling and a proven knack for winning in tough, strategic conditions.
Alex, meanwhile, broke through for his first DP World Tour victory last month to continue the recent family successes.
With Matt providing world‑class long‑game stability and Alex adding plenty of firepower and form, the brothers set a very high bar in both formats and look tailor‑made for TPC Louisiana’s risk‑reward setup.
Brooks Koepka / Shane Lowry
Brooks Koepka and Shane Lowry reunite in New Orleans as one of the most imposing teams on paper, with six majors between them and winning pedigree on both the PGA Tour and the biggest stages.
Lowry has already proved himself in this format, having partnered Rory McIlroy to victory here in 2024 and bringing a superb iron game plus an underrated short game to the partnership.
Koepka’s presence adds further major‑championship steel and the ability to dominate par‑5s and long par‑4s, which can be particularly valuable in four‑ball where aggressive scoring is rewarded.
While Koepka’s schedule remains more limited, he has generally turned up in good shape for big events, and previews have highlighted this pairing as one with enormous upside if both are anywhere near their best.
Ben Griffin / Andrew Novak
Defending champions Ben Griffin and Andrew Novak return to TPC Louisiana with fond memories after capturing their first PGA Tour wins together in 2025.
They shot 28‑under‑par last year, carding rounds of 61 and 62 in four‑ball and closing with one of the lowest winning totals in tournament history, demonstrating just how dangerous they can be when the putter co‑operates.
The pair complement each other nicely: Griffin is one of the more accurate drivers and underrated iron players on tour, while Novak brings solid ball‑striking and a streaky hot putter that can catch fire in birdie‑fest conditions.
With the confidence of a past win and a track record of going low on this specific course, they should relish returning as champions.
Aaron Rai / Sahith Theegala
Aaron Rai and Sahith Theegala form one of the more intriguing combinations in the field, pairing a methodical fairways‑and‑greens merchant with one of the PGA Tour’s most explosive shot‑makers.
Rai’s reputation as a fairway‑finder and elite iron player makes him an ideal foursomes partner, capable of feeding Theegala a steady diet of good looks and keeping the team out of trouble on the demanding holes.
Theegala, meanwhile, is built for four‑ball: he’s aggressive, creative and capable of reeling off birdies in bunches, a trait that has already translated into a PGA Tour victory and multiple close calls in big events.
Recent form guides have pointed to their complementary styles and solid results leading into New Orleans as reasons to keep them onside in the mid‑range of the market.
Wyndham Clark / Taylor Moore
US Open champion Wyndham Clark teams up with Taylor Moore in a partnership that has already shown promise at TPC Louisiana in recent years.
Both players have previously contended in this event with different partners, recording podium finishes and showing they’re comfortable with the unique demands of the format and the golf course.
Clark brings elite distance off the tee, a hot‑and‑cold but potentially devastating putter and the confidence of being one of the top Americans of the last two seasons.
Moore adds solid all‑round numbers and strong approach play, giving the team firepower in four‑ball and stability in foursomes.
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