AVONDALE, La. — In a heart-pounding finish at TPC Louisiana, English brothers Matt Fitzpatrick and Alex Fitzpatrick birdied the 72nd hole to capture the 2026 Zurich Classic of New Orleans by a single stroke, etching their names into PGA Tour history as the first brothers to win the team event.
The duo posted a final-round 1-under 71 in alternate-shot format for a 72-hole total of 31-under 257. They edged out the teams of Alex Smalley/Hayden Springer and Kristoffer Reitan/Kris Ventura, who finished at 30-under.
The victory was especially meaningful for younger brother Alex, who earned a two-year PGA Tour exemption (through 2028), along with spots in prestigious events like the PGA Championship and The Players. For Matt, the win marked his third PGA Tour title in his last four starts — following a triumph at the RBC Heritage the previous week — and further solidified his standing as one of the world’s top players.
The Fitzpatricks built a commanding lead with a tournament-record 15-under 57 in Saturday’s best-ball format, reaching 30-under entering the final round and holding a four-shot advantage at one point on Sunday.
However, the back nine turned chaotic as the lead evaporated amid missed opportunities. With the tournament on the line at the par-5 18th, Matt Fitzpatrick splashed out of the front greenside bunker, spinning his shot to just a foot from the hole. Alex calmly tapped in the birdie putt to seal the dramatic one-stroke win.
The emotional celebration featured a heartfelt hug between the brothers, with their parents nearby — a family moment that captured the essence of the week.
“To win a team event on the PGA Tour with my brother… I don’t know if it gets better than that,” said Matt Fitzpatrick, the 2022 U.S. Open champion. He compared the sibling triumph favorably to his major victory.
Alex, still processing the life-changing win, highlighted the grit required to overcome the late adversity. Both brothers had entered the week in strong form, with Alex fresh off a win on the European circuit.
Each brother earned $1,372,750 and the winning team split 400 FedEx Cup points (Matt’s portion bolstering his lead atop the standings). The win underscores Matt’s remarkable 2026 season, in which he has multiple victories and contended strongly in majors.
