Full Breakdown
Fitzpatrick Brothers Secure Historic Zurich Classic Victory, Earn PGA Tour Card for Alex
4/28/2026, 10:43:45 AM
Historic Victory at the Zurich Classic
On Sunday, April 26 2026, Matt Fitzpatrick and Alex Fitzpatrick won the Zurich Classic of New Orleans at TPC Louisiana. Playing the PGA Tour’s only official team event in an alternate-shot format, the brothers posted a 31-under-par 257 total, one stroke ahead of the teams of Alex Smalley / Hayden Springer and Kristoffer Reitan / Kris Ventura. Their final-hole birdie on the par-5 18th secured the margin.
Background: The Zurich Classic and the Fitzpatrick Brothers
The Zurich Classic is a 72-hole, two-player event that combines four-ball play on the first two days with alternate-shot (foursomes) on the weekend. Matt Fitzpatrick entered the tournament as the world No. 3 and 2022 U.S. Open champion; Alex Fitzpatrick was a DP World Tour regular ranked 141st globally. The pair had previously finished T-11 in 2024 and missed the cut in 2025.
Timeline of the Final Round
- Start of round: The Fitzpatricks held a four-stroke lead.
- Hole 12: Matt’s tee shot struck trees, leading to a double-bogey that reduced the lead to one.
- Hole 14: A bogey further narrowed the margin.
- Hole 15: Matt saved par with a crucial putt.
- Hole 18: Alex’s approach landed in a greenside bunker; Matt’s 35-yard bunker shot stopped within 14 inches of the cup, allowing Alex to tap in for birdie and clinch the win.
Key Figures
- Matt Fitzpatrick: 31-year-old, three PGA Tour victories in 2026, first Englishman with three wins in a single season, now atop the 2026 FedEx Cup standings.
- Alex Fitzpatrick: 27-year-old, winner of the 2023 Hero Indian Open on the DP World Tour, earned his first PGA Tour title.
- Parents: Susan and Russell Fitzpatrick attended the victory celebration; mother Sue provided a post-tournament comment.
- Rival teams: Alex Smalley / Hayden Springer and Kristoffer Reitan / Kris Ventura finished tied for second.
Data & Statistics
- Score: 31-under-par 257 (tournament record).
- Purse: $9.5 million total; winners’ share reported as $2,745,500 (? $1,372,750 each) and, in other sources, £1 million each.
- FedEx Cup points: 400 per player.
- Record-setting round: 57 in four-ball on Saturday, the lowest single-round score in event history.
Impact and Future Opportunities
Alex’s victory grants a two-year PGA Tour exemption through 2028, entry into the 2026 PGA Championship, the 2027 Players Championship, and the remaining 2026 Signature Events (Cadillac, Truist, Memorial, Travelers). The win also makes the Fitzpatricks the 13th brother tandem to win on the PGA Tour and the first in two decades to do so together. Matt’s third win of the season moves him to the top of the FedEx Cup race.
Official Statements & Responses
Matt described the finish as “a grind” and expressed pride in his brother’s performance, noting that the bunker shot on 18 gave Alex an “easy tap-in.” Alex characterized the moment as “a pretty life-changing thing,” emphasizing the emotional significance of winning alongside his family. Sue Fitzpatrick called the result “amazing” and “brilliant,” while Russell Fitzpatrick was noted cheering from the ropes during the final holes.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the exact winner’s prize: some list a $2.745 million split, while others cite £1 million per player. The total purse is consistently reported as $9.5 million, but the conversion between dollars and pounds is not reconciled across articles.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I couldn't feel my hands. I couldn't feel my legs. I couldn't feel anything,” — Alex Fitzpatrick, Player
- “To win a team event on the PGA Tour with my brother — I don’t know if it does gets better than that,” — Matt Fitzpatrick, Player
- “Yeah, it means the world. Absolutely speechless. It was a grind today, and he was unbelievable. I couldn’t be more proud. That was just truly unbelievable today.” — Matt Fitzpatrick, Player
- “Amazing to have them win together. It's been brilliant,” — Sue Fitzpatrick, Mother
- “Just an overwhelming emotion of happiness.” — Alex Fitzpatrick, Player
