Rory McIlroy will return to Augusta to defend his Masters title next week
Amie Wilson Sports writer
17:38, 31 Mar 2026
Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry (Image: Megan Briggs/TGL Golf via Getty Images)
Rory McIlroy has pulled out of the Zurich Classic, leaving Shane Lowry searching for a fresh playing partner for the esteemed team tournament. The duo had previously teamed up in the competition for two successive years.
McIlroy and Lowry secured triumph at the event in 2024, before recording a joint 12th-place finish the subsequent year – the only two instances the Holywood golfer has participated in the competition.
McIlroy has revealed his plans to reduce his PGA Tour appearances this season, focusing on the majors while devoting additional time to his family. According to GolfMagic, the Zurich Classic is among the tournaments he has chosen to miss.
By withdrawing, McIlroy has surrendered the chance to compete for a portion of the €8.1 million prize pot, with approximately €1.1 million available for each individual victor.
Lowry has subsequently secured a replacement partner in Brooks Koepka. The American last participated in the event in 2019, recording a 22nd-place finish alongside his brother Chase, reports the Mirror.
The Zurich Classic, held in New Orleans, consists of two rounds of fourballs – where both golfers play their own ball and the superior score counts – and two rounds of foursomes, in which players share a single ball and take alternating shots throughout. The format features fourballs in rounds one and three, while foursomes occur in the second and fourth rounds.
The competition is scheduled to take place from 23-26 April, positioned between the RBC Heritage tournament (16-19 April) and the Cadillac Championship (30 April-3 May). It comes just a fortnight after the Masters, where McIlroy will be looking to defend his Green Jacket.
In preparation for his Masters title defence, McIlroy has been dealing with a back problem, which compelled his exit from the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Despite this, he succeeded in completing all four rounds at the Players’ Championship the following week, achieving a T46 finish.
“Happy I got through four days and my body feels good,” he remarked after the tournament. “I feel like my game sort of progressively got a little bit better as the week went on, even though the scores probably didn’t reflect it over the weekend.
“I hit the ball well. I just didn’t make anything on the greens. Happy to come through four rounds and feel like my body held up well.”