Matt Fitzpatrick and his brother Alex overcame a nerve-wracking back nine to score a historic victory at the Zurich Classic in New Orleans, earning the latter a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour.
Fitzpatricks birdied the 18th and won by one stroke in dramatic fashion, marking Matt’s third in 2026 and becoming the first brother to win on the PGA Tour.
The world No. 3 has had an excellent few months, narrowly making the playoffs at The Players Championship, winning at Valspar and RBC Heritage, and finishing in the top 20 at the Masters.
Matt Fitzpatrick’s recent success means he has become the first Briton to win more than three times in a year on the PGA Tour and has topped the 2026 FedExCup standings.
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Watch Alex and Matt Fitzpatrick swing at the Audi Performance Zone
Alex Fitzpatrick has also been in great form lately, winning his first DP World Tour title at the Hero Indian Open in March.
The win with his brother at the Zurich Classic gives the 27-year-old an immediate two-year exemption from the PGA Tour through 2028, as well as entry into the next four signature events, the 2026 PGA Championship and 2027 Players Championship.
The Fitzpatrick brothers celebrate their victory
Alex Fitzpatrick told Sky Sports’ Rich Beam: “It’s not going to sink in yet. It’s at its best.” “It’s great to be here with him (Matt), dad and mom. It’s been a lot of hard work. I can’t believe what we’ve done.”
The brothers actually stumbled a bit at the finish line Sunday. They had set a tournament record four-ball score of 57 the previous day, and after the first 11 of the final four holes, they looked like they were headed for victory at 3 under until they hit a double bogey on the 12th hole.
He also made bogey on the 14th, but Matt Fitzpatrick made a crucial par putt on the 15th to prevent a comeback.
The American pair of Alex Smalley and Hayden Springer and the Norwegians Christopher Reitan and Chris Ventura had clubhouse targets set at 30 under, and Fitzpatricks needed a birdie on the 18th to take the title.
Alex couldn’t get his second shot into the bunker, but Matt chipped out about 2 feet out, setting up the win.
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Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick react to victory at Zurich Classic in New Orleans – Alex’s breakthrough moment with his first PGA Tour victory
“It was tough,” Matt Fitzpatrick said. “I wasn’t doing anything to help him (Alex) at all. Other than the putt on No. 15, I wasn’t really supporting him.”
“He was great on that back nine, and he was the same yesterday.
“I said, ‘Give me one last chance,’ and it was nice to let him tap out so easily to hit that bunker shot.”
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