Rory McIlroy is preparing for his Masters defence at Augusta
Amie Wilson Sports Writer
17:18, 31 Mar 2026Updated 11:19, 01 Apr 2026
Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry(Image: Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
Rory McIlroy has withdrawn from the Zurich Classic, leaving Shane Lowry in search of a new playing partner for the prestigious team event. The pair had previously joined forces in the tournament for two consecutive years.
McIlroy and Lowry claimed victory at the event in 2024, before finishing joint 12th the following year — the only two occasions the Holywood man has featured in the competition.
McIlroy has announced his intention to scale back his PGA Tour commitments this season, prioritising the majors while dedicating more time to his family. According to GolfMagic, the Zurich Classic is amongst the tournaments he has opted to sit out.
By stepping aside, McIlroy has forfeited the opportunity to compete for a share of the £7.1 million prize fund, with nearly £1 million on offer for each individual winner.
Lowry has since found a replacement partner in Brooks Koepka. The American last appeared in the event in 2019, finishing in 22nd place alongside his brother Chase, reports the Mirror.
The Zurich Classic, staged in New Orleans, comprises two rounds of fourballs — where both players play their own ball and the best score counts — and two rounds of foursomes, in which players share a single ball and alternate shots throughout. The format features fourballs in rounds one and three, while foursomes take place in the second and fourth rounds.
The tournament is set to run from 23-26 April, sandwiched between the RBC Heritage event (16-19 April) and the Cadillac Championship (30 April-3 May). It arrives just a fortnight following the Masters, where McIlroy will be aiming to retain his Green Jacket.
In the build-up to defending his Masters crown, McIlroy has been managing a back injury, which forced his withdrawal from the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Nevertheless, he managed to complete all four rounds at the Players’ Championship the subsequent week, securing a T46 finish.
“Happy I got through four days and my body feels good,” he commented following the event. “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.”