Brooks Koepka and Shane Lowry Miss Zurich Classic Cut as Power and Schmid Shine in New Orleans

Shane Lowry and Brooks Koepka missed the cut at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans by one shot, ending their hopes of defending the title they won together in 2024.

The Irish golfer and the American combined for five birdies during their opening round but ultimately fell short after bogeys on the par-3 third and seventeenth holes proved costly. Koepka had a five-footer for par on the third hole but slid it three feet past, then tapped in for bogey. Lowry narrowly missed a birdie putt from inside ten feet on their closing hole, the par-3 ninth, and reacted with visible frustration by slapping his right hand against his leg.

Their exit came as Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick remained in contention through two rounds, carding a 7-under 65 in alternate-shot play to sit within one shot of the leaders. Matt Fitzpatrick, ranked third in the world after defeating Scottie Scheffler in a playoff at the RBC Heritage the previous weekend, highlighted his round with a chip-in birdie on the par-5 eighteenth hole. Alex Fitzpatrick made four of the team’s six birdie putts, the longest from more than seventeen feet, and credited his brother’s meticulous green-reading routine for their success.

“We barely missed a shot,” Matt Fitzpatrick said. “We’re in good stead going into the weekend for sure.” Alex added, “I didn’t feel like I did much. (Matt) read the putts for me, and I just keep listening to him, and they go in. It’s much easier having somebody who reads the greens very well by your side.”