Brooks Koepka's new partnership might surprise you. It shouldn't
Of Brooks Koepka and Shane Lowry’s Zurich Classic partnership, Lowry said, “To the outside it might not look like it makes sense.”
golf.comShort answer: Shane Lowry and Brooks Koepka teamed up for the Zurich Classic of New Orleans in 2026, with Lowry explaining how the partnership came about and that they were aiming for a strong result.[3][5]
Context and key details:
- The partnership was arranged because Rory McIlroy couldn't participate, and Lowry had known Koepka and Koepka’s caddie Ricky Elliott for some time, making the pairing a natural fit for the event.[5][3]
- Koepka’s involvement in the Zurich Classic was noted after McIlroy’s withdrawal, and their goal was to contend for the title, building on Lowry’s prior Zurich Classic win with McIlroy.[4][6][3]
- Public commentary from Lowry emphasized that the pairing might look unconventional to outsiders but works well for them, with both players bringing major-winning experience to the team.[6][5]
Recent coverage highlights:
- Lowry discussed the formation of the partnership on SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio, detailing how he approached Koepka and the timeline leading up to the event.[3]
- Multiple outlets covered the dynamic, noting the cross-Atlantic pairing (European star with a multiple major winner from the U.S.) and their optimism about a strong showing in New Orleans.[5][6]
If you’d like, I can pull up the latest results from Zurich Classic 2026 to see how they fared and summarize post-event reactions.