With Rory McIlroy winning the Masters title and skipping the Zurich Classic, Shane Lowry lost his regular partner. The Irishman then did what any smart golfer would do: call in a favor and land one of the most accomplished players available.

Shane Lowry, the 2019 Open Championship winner, is set to play the Zurich Classic in New Orleans with five-time major winner Brooks Koepka.

For the past two years, Lowry partnered with McIlroy at the team event, winning it together in 2024. With McIlroy skipping the tournament this year, Lowry needed someone new.

He found his answer through a familiar connection, and speaking to Chantel McCabe on Sirius XM Radio, Lowry explained how it came together.

"Well, I'm playing, and obviously, my partner from the last two years told me that he wasn't going to play. And I've known Brooks a while, and I'm friendly with Rickie Elliot, his caddie," he said.

Lowry said he expected Brooks Koepka to play due to limited Signature Event access and that their Srixon link fits, adding he aims to win.

Koepka returned to the PGA Tour under strict terms, including a $5 million charity donation, no FedEx Cup bonuses, and no 2026 Signature Event invites. He played nearly every eligible event, allowing Lowry to partner with him; together, they bring six major titles, the most in the field.

Koepka’s Team Record Raises Questions as Lowry Seeks Stability

Despite his individual strength, Koepka's performance in team formats remains under scrutiny. But for Lowry, the bigger concern is his own recent inconsistencies and missed cuts.

Lowry linked his recent disappointment to the Cognizant Classic, saying, "I'm obviously extremely disappointed. I had the tournament in my hands, and I threw it away."

His Ryder Cup record is 7 wins, 6 losses, and 2 ties, which looks good at first. But three of those wins and one tie came in Sunday singles matches. In team matches, his record is 4 wins, 6 losses, and 1 tie.

Koepka and Scottie Scheffler lost 9&7 to Ludvig Åberg and Viktor Hovland in the Ryder Cup 2023. It was the biggest defeat in Ryder Cup history.

His Presidents Cup record tells a better story. In his only appearance in 2017 at Liberty National, Koepka went 2-2 in team matches.

Lowry knows what he has. He wants to win, and since McIlroy is not available, Koepka is one of his best options, even when it comes with the pressure of steadying his own form and performing in a new partnership.

Follow Club Golf for more.

Written by

Sneha Abraham

Edited by

Pulkit Prabhav