Sibling Triumph: Fitzpatrick Brothers Celebrate ‘Life Changing’ Win at New Orleans

The two brothers hugged each other on the 18th green at the Zurich Classic outside New Orleans late Sunday. Matthew Fitzpatrick and younger brother Alex embraced tightly before stepping back to slap hands and then hugging each other again.The tears and smiles told the story of not only a dramatic one-stroke victory at TPC Louisiana, but of shared practice rounds growing up in Sheffield, England, and an immediate future playing together on the PGA Tour.Matthew, 31, is a proven champion, having won the 2013 U.S. Amateur and the 2022 U.S. Open Championship at Brookline. The third-ranked player in the world behind Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, Mr. Fitzgerald claimed his third PGA Tour win of the season.For Alex, winning Sunday meant so much more. It earned the 27-year-old a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour where he can compete alongside his brother and the best players in the world on a weekly basis.“It’s just an overwhelming feeling of happiness,” Alex said. “At the start of the week it was coming here to be a family and spend time with each other and have a great week. To be sitting here now and done what we did, I’m pretty speechless.”The Zurich Classic is the only team event on the PGA Tour schedule, the only time two players partner in best-ball and alternate shot much like the Ryder Cup.For the Fitzpatrick family Sunday was a day never to forget as Matthew and Alex became the first brothers to win the Zurich Classic, etching them in the PGA Tour history books for an eternity.“To win a team event on the PGA Tour with my brother, I don’t know if it does get better than that,” Matthew said.Alex called the victory “life changing.” After struggling early in his professional career, he made his mark on the DP Tour in Europe, winning for the first time at the Hero Indian Open last month.Still, he existed in the shadow of his more accomplished brother, at least until Sunday when they claimed a one-stroke victory. Playing in an alternate-shot format, Alex tapped in for birdie on the final hole after a brilliant shot from a greenside bunker by Matthew left a 1-foot putt to claim the trophy and share the $1.3 million first-place check.“I thought I was going to miss the putt,” Alex said. “Stood over it, even though it was so short, I couldn’t feel my hands, couldn’t feel my legs, couldn’t feel anything.”It is the second consecutive victory for Matthew, who won at the RBC Heritage at Hilton Head the previous week and at Valspar Championship last month. Despite his own success, he delighted in his brother making the PGA Tour.“He is his own person, and he has his own game, and he has his own strengths and his own weaknesses just like we all do,” Matthew said. “With his win, he’s got the exemption. He’s got some time. He’s got things to think about and plan. It’s his own career.”Alex’s first decision was to change a scheduled flight to Turkey to compete in the Turkish Airlines Open and travel to Miami where he is eligible to play at the Cadillac Championship this weekend at Trump National Doral. Matthew, meanwhile, is among the top players, including Rory McIlroy, who have elected to skip the $20 million signature event being played at a course owned by President Trump.There has been grumbling about scheduling too many signature events prior to the PGA Championship. The sixth $20 million signature event of the season, the Truist Championship, is scheduled for May 7-10 at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, where Mr. McIlroy has had a history of success. The PGA Championship, the season’s second major, follows two weeks later at Aronimink Golf Club outside of Philadelphia. “I’m excited to see what doors open and just try and play as good of golf as I can,” Alex said.The PGA Tour is in the process of revamping the scheduling, having already announced the cancellation of the Hawaii swing. In addition, the Tour made 56 job cuts last week to streamline toward a for-profit model.Amid the uncertainty around future schedules and financial ramifications, the Fitzpatrick brothers offered a reminder of what endures in golf: the game itself and the personal stories that elevate it.“I don’t think there’s many people that can say one of the best players in the world is your brother,” Alex said. “I’m incredibly appreciative of him and everything he does for me. I’m obviously incredibly lucky to have him as my brother.”

Sibling Triumph: Fitzpatrick Brothers Celebrate ‘Life Changing’ Win at New Orleans

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