Matt Fitzpatrick and his youthful brother Alex overcame a nervy again 9 to clinch a historic victory on the Zurich Traditional of New Orleans, one which earns the latter a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour.
The Fitzpatricks turned the primary brothers to ever win on the PGA Tour as they birdied the 18th to safe a one-stroke victory in dramatic vogue, Matt’s third of 2026.
The world No 3 has loved a stellar few months which has seen him edged out in a play-off at The Gamers Championship, earlier than wins on the Valspar and RBC Heritage both facet of a top-20 end at The Masters.
Matt Fitzpatrick’s newest success means he’s the primary Englishman to win three or extra instances in a 12 months on the PGA Tour and takes him prime of the 2026 FedExCup standings.
Alex Fitzpatrick has additionally been in glorious type of late, successful his maiden DP World Tour title on the Hero Indian Open in March.
Together with his and his brother’s victory on the Zurich Traditional, the 27-year-old instantly receives a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour via 2028, together with entries into the following 4 signature occasions, 2026 PGA Championship and the 2027 Gamers Championship.
“It will not sink in but. It is nearly as good because it will get,” Alex Fitzpatrick advised Sky Sports activities’ Wealthy Beem. “It is wonderful to be right here with him [Matt], mum and pa. Lots of laborious work; I can not imagine we have carried out it.”
The siblings really considerably stumbled over the ending line on Sunday. Having posted a tournament-record four-ball rating of 57 the day prior, they seemed to be cruising to victory at three-under via the primary 11 holes of the ultimate foursomes – till double-bogeying the twelfth.
One other bogey adopted at 14, earlier than Matt Fitzpatrick considerably stopped the rot by holing a vital par putt at 15.
American pair Alex Smalley and Hayden Springer, in addition to Norwegians Kristoffer Reitan and Kris Ventura had set the clubhouse goal at 30 beneath, with the Fitzpatricks needing a birdie on the 18th to take the title.
Alex hit a poor second shot into the bunker, however Matt’s chip out was a surprising effort to about two toes to arrange their victory.
“It was a wrestle,” Matt Fitzpatrick stated. “I used to be doing completely zero to assist him [Alex]. Aside from the putt on 15, I wasn’t actually offering a lot help.
“He was unbelievable on that again 9. As he was yesterday as properly.
“I stated ‘simply give us an opportunity on the final’, and to hit a bunker shot like that, it was good to present him a simple faucet in there.”
What’s the Zurich Class and its format?
The Zurich Traditional is the lone crew occasion on the PGA Tour calendar, with groups competing in a four-ball format in the course of the first and third rounds, the place every golfer performs their very own ball – with the bottom rating on every gap counting.
The second and remaining rounds transfer take the foursomes format, which sees gamers alternate pictures utilizing just one ball. The overall strokes taken ends in the crew’s rating for every gap, with gamers alternating tee pictures all through the spherical.
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