Blog#330Z The Zurich Classic Results April23-26, 2026

Blog#330Z The Zurich Classic Results April23-26, 2026

ROUND 1 Best Ball: Each player plays his own ball and best score counts. FINISH

1 Alex Smalley/Hayden Springer-14 58 OWGR 104 & 238, 1 eagle, 12 birdies. 2

2 Davis Thompson/Austin Eckroat-13 59 OWGR 120 & 157, 1 eagle team 11 birdies. 6

3 Sam Stevens/Zach Bauchou-12 60 OWGR 46 & 171. Only top team with 2 bogies. 13

12 Aaron Rai/Sahith Theegala-10 62 Rai holes out eagle from 150 yards on #13. 24

16 Brandt Snedeker/Keith Mitchell-9 63 Oldest group. Snedeker eagle 2 bogies. 30

29 Matt&Alex Fitzpatrick OWGR 3/141 No-one has come back #22 after 1st RD to win. WIN

41 Ben Griffin/Andrew Novak OWGR /52 Last years winners, not this year! 10

50 Brooks Koepka/Shane Lowry-6 66 OWGR 129/35 Koepka was awful. CUT

50 Luke Clanton/Blades Brown-6 50 Brown outplayed Clanton (43 bogies). 26

50 Harry Higgs/Jeremy Paul-6 50 Love Harry but neither of these guys PGA regulars CUT

ROUND 2 *Started on 10th hole. Alternate shot format.

1 *Smally/Springer-16 70 Three bogies cost them to extend their lead.

2 *Fitzpatrick Brothers-15 65 Low RD, eagled #18, and 6 birdies bogie #3 Up 28 spots.

2 *Thompson/Eckrout-15 70 Start with 3 birdies but finish with 3 bogies until birdie on #9.

2 Horschel/Hoge-15 68 Start with bogie then 2 more with 6 birdies, up 4 spots. 6

5 Cole/Lebioda-14 Tied for lead after 15 holes but DB on 16, bogie 17, birdie 18. 6

5 Five other teams tied for 5th but not likely to win.

ROUND3 Best Ball: Each player plays his own ball and best score counts.

1 Fitzpatricks-30 57 One eagle 12 bogies, both birdies 6 holes no bogies.

WOW I don’t think anyone can catch them, makes tournament good TV.

2 Thompson/Eckrout-26 Bogie on #6 but 1 eagle 8 birdies to stay close.

2 Smalley/Springer-26 Bogie on 12 but 10 birdies.

ROUND 4 Good chance that ratings will be up from 2:30 to 6:00 and see Alex get his card.

1 Fitzpatricks-31 71 Great win, although not pretty as they squandered a 4 shot lead with DB on 12 and bogie on 14, but were able to birdie 18 to prevent a playoff.

2 Smally/Springer-30 68 Started with bogie and had to struggle to tie after 13 holes, but bogie on 17 prevented them from win or playoff, but they birdied 18 for 2nd place.

3 Reitan/Ventura-30 Low RD of the day had them move up from 5th place to an opportunity to win when they scored their 2nd eagle on #11 to get to -30. However bogies on 13&15 cost them a possible victory even with their 3rd eagle on #18.

COMMENTARY I don’t like the format and consider it an exhibition, not a tournament.

It is held in a nice venue in New Orleans, but I don’t think it will be a featured event in 2027.

The players seem to like the change to team play and I have tried to make my blog as interesting as possible. The final RD was very competitive in the back9, and may have increased TV ratings. But other than looking at a few of the top golfers game, and some popular veterans, I don’t believe it is as interesting as single score play.

This tournament is usually won after RD1 but the Fitzpatrick team managed to be the first to come from so far back(#29 after RD1) and win.