Matt Fitzpatrick and Alex Fitzpatrick (-30) made history this Saturday at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Besides taking a giant step in the fight for the title, the English brothers posted an epic third round of 57 strokes, an outright record in fourball at the tournament, offering a display of chemistry and precision that puts them in sole possession of the lead with a three-shot advantage with the final round remaining.
In a pairs tournament where chemistry is everything, the Fitzpatrick are showing that few bonds are as strong as blood. They understand each other almost without speaking, complement each other perfectly on the course and have turned that natural connection into the big story of the week in Louisiana, in this different PGA Tour event. So much so that they have also set the tournament best after 54 holes, 30 under par.
The record-breaking brothers!
Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick set the course record with a 15-under 57 for a four-shot lead @Zurich_Classic. pic.twitter.com/JeJvWFvqgk
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 25, 2026
Only four of the 18 holes at TPC Louisiana withstood the attack of the English pairing. No fewer than 13 birdies and an eagle were recorded by the Fitzpatrick in the fourball format, with no bogeys, for a tremendous 15 under par that will allow them to face the final round, in foursomes format, with a healthy three-shot cushion over the two pairs who share second place and who present themselves as their main rivals in the fight for the trophy.
“It has been an incredible day. We probably haven’t yet taken in how well we played today. Playing alongside my brother, who is also one of the best players in the world, is great fun. Today we felt almost as if we were a single player. I was helping him on the greens and he was giving me opportunities to be aggressive at the flags,” said Matt Fitzpatrick after his sensational round alongside Alex.
Davis Thompson and Austin Eckroat (-26), with a 61, together with Alex Smalley and Hayden Springer (-26), with 62, have barely withstood the brothers’ onslaught to give themselves a chance on Sunday. Doug Ghim y Jeffrey Kang (-25), with a 61 on the ‘moving day’, are also within recoverable distance in the alternate-shot format. Further back are the five pairs tied for fifth, six shots off. But the Fitzpatrick brothers have it in their hands…
