Alex and Matt Fitzpatrick have surged into the lead at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, carding a tournament record score.
The English brothers, who are from Sheffield in South Yorkshire, began the third round one shot off the lead. They now hold a four-shot advantage in the PGA Tour pairs event after shooting a 15-under 57 on Saturday at TPC Louisiana.
Dominant Third Round Performance
Matt Fitzpatrick described the day as “awesome,” saying he could only recall one poor shot. The 2022 US Open winner made an eagle on the par-five seventh hole, and the pair sustained their momentum throughout the four-ball format.
The Fitzpatrick brothers recorded 13 birdies, including eight on the back nine, and were without a bogey. Each brother provided the best score seven times.
Alex Fitzpatrick said playing alongside his brother, whom he called “one of the best players in the world”, was “pretty fun”. He added that it was “pretty cool to watch” when Matt was playing well.
Format and Leaderboard
The Zurich Classic is played over four rounds. Teams of two alternate between fourball in the first and third rounds and foursomes in the second and fourth rounds.
- The Fitzpatricks are at -30 overall.
- Alex Smalley and Hayden Springer, along with Austin Eckroat and Davis Thompson, are tied for second at -26.
- Last year’s winning score was 28 under.
Alex Fitzpatrick’s Rising Form
Alex Fitzpatrick is currently ranked 141st in the world. Matt Fitzpatrick noted that his brother’s game had “really turned a corner” in recent months, expressing belief in his continued progress.
Looking Ahead to the Final Round
The format returns to foursomes for the final round. The winning pair will receive a cheque worth £1m.