alex fitzpatrick and his brother Matt Fitzpatrick made history on Sunday at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, becoming the first brothers to win a PGA Tour event. The English pair survived a tense final round at TPC Louisiana to secure a one-stroke victory in the pairs tournament. Their win came after a nervy back nine and a decisive birdie at the 18th hole.
Historic finish at TPC Louisiana
The Fitzpatricks began the final round with a four-shot lead after setting a tournament record score on Saturday, but the margin quickly tightened as the pressure built. A double bogey on the 12th and a bogey on 14 opened the door to other contenders, including Norwegian duo Kristoffer Reitan and Kristoffer Ventura and American pair Alex Smalley and Hayden Springer.
At one stage, the leaderboard left three pairings tied at 30 under par with the Fitzpatricks still on the course. On the final hole, Matt Fitzpatrick produced a precise bunker shot that left alex fitzpatrick a short birdie putt to seal the title.
Alex Fitzpatrick and Matt Fitzpatrick hold their nerve
The closing stretch was not smooth, but the brothers kept their composure when it mattered most. Matt Fitzpatrick said the victory felt emotional because he was sharing it with family, while Alex Fitzpatrick said the moment had not yet fully sunk in.
“It’s amazing to be here with him, my mum and dad. It’s a lot of hard work and I can’t believe we’ve done it, ” Matt Fitzpatrick said. He also called the final round a struggle and said he was not doing much to help his brother until the crucial shot at the end.
Alex Fitzpatrick described the win as “as good as it gets” and said he could not believe the pair had pulled it off.
What the victory changes
The result gives Alex Fitzpatrick a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour, along with entries into the next four signature events, the 2026 PGA Championship and the 2027 Players Championship. It also adds another major milestone to a strong run for Matt Fitzpatrick, who already had two wins this year before arriving in New Orleans.
Matt Fitzpatrick’s latest win also moved him top of the 2026 FedExCup standings and made him the first Englishman to win three or more times in a year on the PGA Tour. The pair also earned a cheque worth £1m after closing out the Zurich Classic victory.
Background on the brothers’ run
The brothers missed the cut in last year’s Zurich Classic and finished tied for 11th in 2024. This year, the format featured four rounds with teams alternating between fourball and foursomes, and the Fitzpatricks took full advantage of their strong start before surviving the final-day scare.
Their Zurich Classic success now stands as a rare family breakthrough and a defining result for alex fitzpatrick, who leaves New Orleans with both history and a longer runway on the PGA Tour.
