Defending Champions McIlroy and Lowry Six Shots Back Heading Into Crucial Weekend at Zurich Classic
Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry’s title defense at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans is still alive—but only just—after a frustrating late stumble left them six shots adrift heading into the weekend. The Irish duo, who came into this week looking to become the first pair ever to successfully defend the Zurich Classic crown, showed flashes of brilliance on Friday but were ultimately undone by a rocky finish.
Starting the day already six shots off the pace after Thursday’s promising eight-under-par 64 in the fourball format, McIlroy and Lowry knew they needed another strong performance in the alternate-shot foursomes to close the gap on the leaders. For much of the round, they looked up to the task.
Six under par through their first 12 holes, it seemed as though McIlroy and Lowry were poised to make a serious move. But golf, as ever, has a cruel way of turning on a dime. A series of mistakes down the stretch—most notably bogeys on their final two holes—saw the Irishmen sign for a three-under 69, halting their momentum at precisely the wrong moment.
Strong Start Fades Away for McIlroy and Lowry at Zurich Classic
The day had started so brightly. McIlroy, fresh off his career-defining Masters triumph just two weeks ago, showed no signs of rust as he poured in an 11-foot eagle putt at the second hole. The energy around the pair was palpable; four more birdies followed, and suddenly, McIlroy and Lowry were tied for second at 14-under-par, breathing down the leaders’ necks.
But just as they looked ready to mount a real challenge, things began to unravel. First came a dropped shot on the 13th, where McIlroy missed the green with his approach—a rare lapse in an otherwise sharp iron game. From there, the mistakes compounded: missed greens, scrambling for pars, and eventually, bogeys at both the 17th and 18th holes.
“We were six under through 12 and cruising, and then a bit of a bad finish,” McIlroy admitted afterward. “But honestly, I didn’t feel like we played that badly to have the finish that we did. Just a couple of loose shots here and there.”
Those loose shots proved costly. In a format as punishing as foursomes—where players alternate shots and mistakes are amplified—there is little margin for error.
American Rookies Velo and Salinda Continue to Impress
While McIlroy and Lowry were left to rue what might have been, rookies Kevin Velo and Isaiah Salinda continued to turn heads. The unheralded American duo, playing with a freedom and fearlessness that belies their inexperience, matched the Irishmen’s 69 to maintain their position atop the leaderboard.
Velo and Salinda’s steady play leaves them one shot clear of fellow Americans Ben Griffin and Andrew Novak, while Danish twins Rasmus and Nicolai Hojgaard sit just another stroke behind. The leaderboard remains tightly packed, setting up what promises to be a thrilling weekend shootout.
English pair David Skinns and Ben Taylor are also very much in the hunt, four shots back after an impressive 67 on Friday. Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre and Belgian partner Thomas Detry—along with McIlroy and Lowry—are part of a chasing group six shots off the pace.
Fourball Format Brings Fresh Opportunities for McIlroy and Lowry
If there’s a silver lining for McIlroy and Lowry, it’s that Saturday’s format change could play perfectly into their hands. The third round reverts back to fourballs, where both players play their own ball and the best score counts for the team.
In Thursday’s fourball round, McIlroy and Lowry combined superbly, posting an eight-under-par 64 that kept them within touching distance of the lead. With birdie chances coming thick and fast in fourball, the Irish duo will know they need to go low—very low—on Saturday to keep their hopes of a successful title defense alive.
“Tomorrow it will be hard to stay patient because with fourballs you just have to try to make as many birdies as you can,” McIlroy said, acknowledging the need for an aggressive mindset.
Given McIlroy’s recent form and Lowry’s steady hand, they certainly have the firepower to do it. But they’ll need to rediscover the clinical edge that deserted them over the final holes on Friday.
A Pivotal Weekend Awaits at the Zurich Classic
With two contrasting formats left to play—Saturday’s freewheeling fourball followed by Sunday’s nerve-jangling foursomes finale—the Zurich Classic is set up for an unpredictable and exciting finish.
For McIlroy and Lowry, the mission is simple: go low on Saturday, stay within striking distance, and give themselves a chance to make history on Sunday. It won’t be easy. The American rookies have shown remarkable poise, and the chasing pack is full of hungry, in-form teams.
But if there’s one thing we know about McIlroy and Lowry, it’s that they love a fight. And with the Zurich Classic title—and a slice of history—still within reach, you can bet they’ll be coming out swinging.
