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<\/p>\nRory McIlroy will return to Augusta to defend his Masters title next week<\/p>\n
Amie Wilson Sports writer <\/p>\n
17:38, 31 Mar 2026<\/p>\n
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Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry (Image: Megan Briggs\/TGL Golf via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
McIlroy and Lowry<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n McIlroy<\/a> has revealed his plans to reduce his PGA Tour<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n By withdrawing, McIlroy has surrendered the chance to compete for a portion of the \u20ac8.1 million prize pot, with approximately \u20ac1.1 million available for each individual victor.<\/p>\n 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.<\/a><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n “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.<\/p>\n “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.”<\/p>\n