Zurich Classic of New Orleans 2025 Preview, Picks & Analysis

Rory McIlroy will join his best friend on tour Shane Lowry on what is likely to be a victory parade at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. The newly-crowned Masters champion and Lowry won this tournament 12 months ago and it would be a big surprise if they fail to emulate that feat this time.

McIlroy is now the latest player to have claimed the career grand slam and will surely be playing this week with a huge smile on his face. He plays his very best when he is relaxed and he and Lowry had a huge amount of fun last year and, after winning, pledged to return to defend their title.

They won after beating Chad Ramey and Martin Trainer in a play-off. American Ramey and French player Trainer shot a nine-under 63 to set a target of 25 under.

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McIlroy and Lowry birdied the final hole to post 68 and force a play-off. They parred the first play-off hole to win after Trainer missed his par putt.

(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)

McIlroy and Lowry started the final round two off the pace and fell five behind before four birdies in five holes around the turn put them in contention.

American duo Ryan Brehm and Mark Hubbard finished a shot adrift with four players tied on 23 under.

McIlroy said: “We have just had the best week together.”

There was some speculation that, after his Masters triumph, McIlroy might opt to take the week off. Not a bit of it.

Lowry said: "We'll be there. I talked to him and we are good to go. To be honest, I didn't want him to feel like he had to play because of me.

"He's not letting me down if he wanted to take some time. He feels like he wants to get back out there."

There will be plenty who will have something to say about the Irish pair striding to another win, but in a major blow for the organisers, Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele have withdrawn.

It is now more than two years since Cantlay last won on the PGA Tour - and that is far too long for a golfer of his talent. But he has produced plenty of sparkling golf.

Schauffele enjoyed a stellar year in 2024, winning both the US PGA and The Open in sensational style.  His progress stalled at the start of 2025 as he was struck down by injury. It has taken him a while to find his feet again but there were signs at The Masters that his very best golf is just around the corner. This is a format he enjoys.

I have a feeling that Sahith Theegala and Aaron Rai may have something to say about the outcome in New Orleans. Rai, from England, famously plays while wearing two gloves. Since joining the PGA Tour he has surprised many people with how well he has done. Week in, week out, he is one of the most consistent players in the game. He goes about his business quietly and efficiently, with a minimum of fuss. You will never see Rai losing his cool. He takes everything in his stride.

He is also one of the most accurate drivers of a golf ball on the PGA Tour and is a quite superb iron player. He will complement Theegala’s attaching style perfectly., Expect to see them make a LOT of birdies.

Speaking of brilliant iron players, double major champion Collin Morikawa can count himself incredibly unlucky not to have won a couple of times this year, having lost out at the both the Tournament of Champions and Arnold Palmer Invitational to inspired golf by Hideki Matsuyama and Russell Henley respectively. He is partnered with Kurt Kitayama and this could be the week he breaks his duck.

Week in, week out we see players grinding it out, taking everything far too seriously. This tournament makes a refreshing change for players and spectators alike - an event where the players have fun and inter-act with the galleries.

Tournament winners

The tournament first became a team event in 2017, when it was won by Cameron Smith and Jonas Blixt, ii was won in 2018 by Billy Horschel and Scott Piercy, in 2019 by Jon Rahm and Ryan Palmer, in 2021 by Cameron Smith and Marc Leishman, in 2022 by Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele, in 2023 by Davis Riley and Nick Hardy and last year by Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry. It wasn’t played in 2020 because of the pandemic.

The course:

TPC Louisiana is located 15 minutes from New Orleans. It is a par 72 that measures 7,425 yards. The course record of 62 was set by Ben Martin in 2014. It was designed by Pete Dye, Steve Elkington and Kelly Gibson. It stretches over 250 acres of wetlands along the Mississippi River Delta and features plenty of water hazards, more than 100 bunkers, and plenty of cypress and oak trees.

Form guide:

Rory McIlroy has already won three times in 2025, including that incredible Masters success, and Lowry has also shown some sparkling form. They will be a hard act to beat.

Prize money:

The winners will each take home around $1.25m and 400 FedEx Cup points

How to watch:

Thursday, April 24, Sky Sports Golf, 12.30pm; Friday, April 25, Sky Sports Golf, 1.45pm; Saturday, April 26, Sky Sports Golf, 2pm; Sunday, April 27, Sky Sports Golf, 3.30pm

Top Picks

To win:

Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry. Out to have fun

Each way:

Aaron Rai and Sahith Theegala. Will be lots of birdies

Each way:

Collin Morikawa and Kurt Kitayama. Two fierce competitors

Five to follow:

Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry. Will be hard to beat

Aaron Rai and Sahith Theegala. Will be there or thereabouts

Collin Morikawa and Kurt Kitayama. Terrific iron players

Aaeon Rai and Sahith Theegala. Will be lots of birdies

Nicolai Hojgaard and Rasmus Hojgaard. How will they tell them apart?