Why Shane Lowry and Brooks Koepka teamed up at the Zurich Classic

TL;DR

Brooks Koepka and Shane Lowry have teamed up for the Zurich Classic, showcasing contrasting styles. Koepka is a five-time major champion, while Lowry is known for his steady play and past success with Rory McIlroy.

Key points

Brooks Koepka is a five-time major champion.
Shane Lowry won the Zurich Classic in 2024 with Rory McIlroy.
Koepka and Lowry have contrasting playing styles.
The Zurich Classic features a team format.
Lowry is known for his steady play and short game.

Brooks KoepkaShane LowryZurich Classic

AVONDALE, La. — On the surface, Brooks Koepka and Shane Lowry look like the kind of Zurich Classic pairing that makes you tilt your head for a second.

Koepka is a five-time major champion whose career has recently taken a few unexpected turns. He's now back on the PGA Tour but still navigating a complicated path into its biggest events. Lowry is the steady Irishman who partnered with Rory McIlroy to win this event in 2024 and has been a stud for the European Ryder Cup team for a decade.

Brooks Koepka and Shane Lowry Wednesday prior to the 2026 Zurich Classic of New Orleans at TPC Louisiana.

Koepka saunters around the course, almost strutting, and with his powerful build he looks like he could have been an outside linebacker or a fullback at Florida State instead of one of the school’s elite golfers. Lowry, well … doesn’t look like that. Dressing in all black most days, his, shall we say, slightly-softer appearance and quick laugh disguise his talents and uncanny short game.

It’s not a duo that anyone saw coming, but like most things at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, the story behind the pairing is a little more layered than it first appears.

“To the outside it might not look like it makes sense, but you know, to us it does,” Lowry said. “I think the ball, everything about it, you know, we do have a good relationship. We're going to have a good bit of fun out there.”

Lowry and Koepka both play a Srixon ball, Lowry the Z-Star XV and Koepka the Z-Star Diamond, so in the foursomes rounds, each will be very familiar with his teammates ball behaves.