Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick Win the 2026 Zurich Classic of New Orleans

Apr 26, 2026, 22:42

Introduction

Brothers Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick have won the 2026 Zurich Classic of New Orleans at TPC Louisiana, marking a major professional achievement for both players.

Main Body

The brothers finished the tournament at 31-under par, winning by a single shot. This success followed a record-breaking third round in the four-ball format, where they scored a 15-under 57. This performance set both a course record at TPC Louisiana and a new 54-hole scoring record for the tournament. In the final round, which used an alternate-shot format, the pair managed to keep their lead despite some mistakes, including a double-bogey and a bogey, before finally securing the win with a birdie on the last hole. The financial and professional rewards for this victory are significant. The team earned a total of $2,745,500, meaning each brother received $1,372,750. For Matt Fitzpatrick, this win pushed his total career earnings over $40 million and continued his recent streak of success. Meanwhile, Alex Fitzpatrick, who entered the event through a sponsor's invitation and usually plays on the DP World Tour, earned a two-year PGA Tour exemption until 2028. Furthermore, he has now qualified for the 2026 PGA Championship and other major events this year. From a historical perspective, the Zurich Classic changed to a team format in 2017, and the Fitzpatricks are the first siblings to win the event. In the history of the PGA Tour's team competitions, Billy Horschel is still the only player to win the tournament in both its individual and team versions. Other notable players in the 2026 event were Alex Smalley and Hayden Springer, who tied for second place, allowing Smalley to earn the highest prize money of his career.

Conclusion

The Fitzpatrick brothers have successfully won the 2026 Zurich Classic, providing Alex with his first major victory and confirming Matt's current position as a dominant player in the sport.

Vocabulary Learning

alternate-shot (adj.)

taking turns to play each stroke交替擊球的

Example:The pair played in an alternate-shot format during the final round.

dominant (adj.)

having power or influence over others主導的

Example:He is considered a dominant player in the sport.

exemption (n.)

a special permission to be exempt from a rule免除

Example:He received a two-year PGA Tour exemption until 2028.

record-breaking (adj.)

breaking a record / setting a new record破紀錄的

Example:He achieved a record-breaking score of 57 in the third round.

sponsor (n.)

a person or organization that provides financial support贊助者

Example:He entered the event through a sponsor's invitation.

Sentence Learning

This success followed a record-breaking third round in the four-ball format, where they scored a 15-under 57.

Relative Clause: The clause 'where they scored a 15-under 57' provides additional information about the third round, specifying what happened during that round.關係子句: 子句 'where they scored a 15-under 57' 為第三輪提供額外資訊，說明該輪發生了什麼。

The team earned a total of $2,745,500, meaning each brother received $1,372,750.

Noun Clause: The clause 'meaning each brother received $1,372,750' acts as a noun phrase that explains the consequence of the team's earnings.名詞子句: 子句 'meaning each brother received $1,372,750' 作為名詞片語，說明團隊獲利的結果。

In the final round, which used an alternate-shot format, the pair managed to keep their lead despite some mistakes, including a double-bogey and a bogey, before finally securing the win with a birdie on the last hole.

Contrastive Conjunction: The word 'despite' introduces a contrast between the pair's mistakes and their ability to maintain the lead.對比連接詞: 'despite' 引入對比，說明儘管有失誤，球隊仍能保持領先。