Fitzpatrick Brothers Fire Round of Day, Sit One Back in New Orleans

Family Affair Heating Up at TPC Louisiana

I've covered plenty of team events over the years, but there's something special about watching brothers compete together on the PGA Tour. At the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick are reminding everyone why blood runs thicker than water—and apparently, it also putts pretty well.

The English duo torched TPC Louisiana on Friday with a 7-under 65 in the alternate shot format, the best round of the entire field. That's no small feat when you're hitting every other shot and relying on your partner to clean up your messes. They now sit at 15-under par, just one stroke behind leaders Alex Smalley and Hayden Springer heading into the weekend.

From Six Back to Breathing Down Their Necks

After an opening 64 in the four-ball format, the Fitzpatricks found themselves six shots behind the American leaders. Most teams would be content with a solid Friday and hope to make a weekend push. Not these two.

Matt and Alex responded with an eagle, six birdies, and just a single dropped shot. The chemistry was undeniable, and honestly, it shouldn't surprise anyone given how both brothers have been playing lately.

Matt Fitzpatrick has been absolutely unconscious in 2026. The 31-year-old from Sheffield now sits at world number three after collecting two PGA Tour victories this season—the Valspar Championship in March and, most impressively, a playoff win over Scottie Scheffler at the RBC Heritage just last weekend. Beating the world's best player in a sudden death situation? That's the kind of form you want heading into a team event.

Meanwhile, younger brother Alex, 27, broke through with his first professional title at the Hero Indian Open on the DP World Tour back in March. The Fitzpatrick household must be running out of room for trophies at this point.

The Family Connection

"Obviously playing here as a family has been great for us, not seeing each other that much in the year," Alex said after the round. It's a sentiment that resonates—these guys are traveling the world playing golf, often on different continents. The Zurich Classic gives them a rare chance to compete side-by-side, and they're making the most of it.

This marks their third consecutive appearance together at TPC Louisiana, though last year ended in disappointment with a missed cut. Clearly, they've figured something out this time around.

The Leaderboard Logjam

The Fitzpatricks aren't alone in second place. They're tied with two American pairings: Davis Thompson with Austin Eckroat, and the formidable duo of Billy Horschel and Tom Hoge. Six more teams lurk at 14-under, creating a genuine traffic jam at the top.

English representation extends beyond the Fitzpatricks, too. Aaron Rai and American partner Sahith Theegala sit at 12-under, while the all-English pairings of Matt Wallace with Marco Penge and John Parry with Dan Brown are hanging around at 11-under.

Star Power Sent Home

Not everyone survived Friday's cut, which fell at 10-under par with the top 33 teams advancing. The most notable casualties? Shane Lowry and Brooks Koepka, who were teaming up for the first time.

The combination of an Irish Ryder Cup hero and a five-time major champion seemed like a dream pairing on paper. Instead, they posted rounds of 66 and 69—solid numbers individually, but not enough in this format. Missing by a single shot has to sting, especially for two players with that much pedigree.

What's Next

Saturday brings another round of four-ball (best ball), which tends to produce lower scores and more drama. The Fitzpatricks will need to keep the foot on the gas, because Smalley and Springer have shown no signs of cooling off.

Sunday's finale returns to alternate shot, where Matt and Alex just proved they're arguably the best in the field. If they're within striking distance heading into the final round, I wouldn't bet against them.

Quick Takeaways

• Form matters: Matt Fitzpatrick's hot streak continues, and having a brother playing his best golf ever doesn't hurt either.
• Alternate shot specialists: The Fitzpatricks' Friday 65 suggests they've got an edge when the pressure of foursomes golf ratchets up.
• Crowded leaderboard: With multiple teams within two shots, Sunday could be absolute chaos.
• Star casualties: Lowry-Koepka missing by one shows just how competitive this field really is.