Rory McIlroy Skips Zurich Classic, Lowry Pairs With Koepka

McIlroy prioritizes majors and family time, while Lowry teams up with five-time major winner Brooks Koepka for the PGA Tour's team event.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 2:49am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting overlapping planes of a golf tournament, with vibrant colors representing the energy and competition of the event.The unique partnership of Shane Lowry and Brooks Koepka aims to capture the Zurich Classic title, as Rory McIlroy opts to skip the event.Jupiter Today

Rory McIlroy has opted to skip the 2026 Zurich Classic of New Orleans, where he and Shane Lowry won the team event in 2024. Lowry has instead paired up with Brooks Koepka for this year's tournament, which takes place April 23-26.

Why it matters

McIlroy's decision to bypass the Zurich Classic reflects his shift in priorities to focus more on major championships and family time. Meanwhile, the Lowry-Koepka pairing brings together two top players with a commercial connection through their shared equipment sponsor Srixon.

The details

McIlroy and Lowry won the Zurich Classic in 2024 during their first appearance together, but finished tied for 12th the following year. McIlroy has now opted to limit his PGA Tour schedule to prioritize the majors and spend more time with his family. Lowry has selected five-time major winner Brooks Koepka as his new partner for the 2026 Zurich Classic, a logical fit as both players reside in Jupiter, Florida and represent Srixon.

  • The 2026 Zurich Classic is scheduled for April 23-26.
  • McIlroy and Lowry won the event in 2024.
  • McIlroy and Lowry finished tied for 12th in 2025.

The players

Rory McIlroy

A professional golfer from Northern Ireland who has won four major championships.

Shane Lowry

An Irish professional golfer who won the 2019 Open Championship.

Brooks Koepka

An American professional golfer who has won five major championships.

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What’s next

The 2026 Zurich Classic of New Orleans is scheduled for April 23-26.

The takeaway

McIlroy's decision to skip the Zurich Classic reflects his shift in priorities to focus more on major championships and family time, while the Lowry-Koepka pairing brings together two top players with a commercial connection through their shared equipment sponsor.