Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick shot 7-under in alternate-shot play to move within one stroke of the Zurich Classic lead heading into the weekend.
AVONDALE, La. — Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick have the Zurich Classic in their sights after pulling within one stroke of the leaders through two rounds.
The brothers combined for a 7-under 65 in alternate-shot play Friday. narrowing the gap to Alex Smalley and Hayden Springer. who sit at 16-under through 36 holes.. Smalley and Springer posted a tournament-record 58 in better-ball play in the opening round. but followed it with a 70 to keep the field close as the event heads into the weekend.
That closeness matters because, going into Saturday, nine teams will tee off within two shots of the lead. It also frames what’s been a defining storyline at this tournament: format pressure, momentum swings, and the way small mistakes can evaporate an advantage in short order.
The Fitzpatricks’ run was built on calm execution at key moments. including Matt Fitzpatrick’s chip-in birdie on the par-5 18th.. Alex. who has leaned heavily on the duo’s shared decision-making. played a major role as well. making four of the six birdie putts from the teams’ alternate-shot rhythm. including the longest of the group from more than 17 feet.
Behind the numbers is a partnership dynamic the public rarely gets to see up close.. Alex described a routine shaped by how Matt reads greens—meticulous and grounded in detail. including a near-prone position to get a clearer view of slopes before a putt.. “I didn’t feel like I did much. ” Alex said. crediting Matt’s green reading and their trust in how each putt should be paced.
That trust can be especially valuable in a team format where one misread can snowball.. Springer. for his part. pointed to the kind of steadiness required to keep pace: scrambling well. staying patient. and making the putts that come only after the pressure has already arrived.. At the Zurich Classic, where the best teams can move quickly, the margin for “hanging on” is thin.
As the leaderboard tightened, several notable names felt the cost of a single missed opportunity.. Shane Lowry and Brooks Koepka missed the cut by one stroke even after producing five birdies together.. Their undoing came from bogeys on par 3s at holes 3 and 17. a reminder that the short holes can shift a tournament’s math quickly—especially when teams need consistency over heroics.
The PGA Tour’s team event will switch to better ball on Saturday and then return to alternate shot on Sunday.. That sequence typically rewards different strengths: better ball can create a safety net, while alternate shot demands synchronization.. One reason this tournament remains so watchable is that it changes the kinds of decisions teams make—who takes the aggressive line. which putts get the extra attention. and when a partner leans in for support.
Other teams stayed in range.. Billy Horschel. a player who has won the Zurich in both single and team formats. briefly pulled himself and teammate Tome Hoge into a first-place tie at 15-under with a 19-foot birdie putt on 18.. Tony Finau and Max Greyserman. meanwhile. missed a birdie chance from within six feet on the same green that would have pushed them through. finishing one stroke below the cut line.. Americans Davis Thompson and Austin Eckroat also remained tied for second after a second-round 70.
The tournament’s leaderboard snapshot included five teams tied at 130.. Among them were Matt McCarty and Mac Meissner; Doug Ghim and Jeffrey Kang; Nick Dunlap and Gordon Sargent; Kristoffer Reitan and Kris Ventura; and Sam Stevens and Zac Bouchou.. Higher-profile teams lurked just behind as well. including Aaron Rai and Sahith Theegala at 132. and 2023 US Open winner Wyndham Clark with Taylor Moore at 133.. Defending Zurich champs Ben Griffin and Andrew Novak made the cut at 134 after a tense finish that featured redemption after a missed par putt.
For Koepka, the weekend also carries a stakes layer beyond the scorecard.. In his first season back on the PGA Tour following four years with LIV Golf. he’s been working for a strong run that could earn him an exemption for a signature event.. With next week’s field at Trump National Doral in Miami potentially out of reach. the Zurich Classic becomes more than a chance at momentum—it’s a practical shot at securing his place.
The Fitzpatricks’ momentum also reflects where they’ve been lately.. Matt Fitzpatrick has won twice since March. while Alex won his first European Tour title at the Hero Indian Open last month.. Their partnership has become a fixture in this event. with the brothers playing together for a fourth straight year in New Orleans.
Still, as the weekend approaches, the emotional tone shifts from celebration to preparation.. In a format that constantly alters pressure, being “close” isn’t a finish line—it’s a starting point.. The next swing of play will test whether the Fitzpatricks can keep their partnership rhythm sharp when the course tightens and the field starts taking more risks.
For now, one stroke is enough to keep the story alive: two brothers, one team identity, and a lead that can disappear quickly—or be seized—during the next rounds at the Zurich Classic.