rory mcilroy first european tour win

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Rory McIlroy

Pga tour wins, 2010 1 pga tour wins.

Quail Hollow Championship

2011 1 PGA tour wins

2012 4 pga tour wins.

The Honda Classic

PGA Championship

Deutsche Bank Championship

BMW Championship

2014 3 PGA tour wins

The Open Championship

World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational

2015 2 PGA tour wins

World Golf Championships-Cadillac Match Play

Wells Fargo Championship

2016 2 PGA tour wins

Tour Championship

2018 1 PGA tour wins

Arnold Palmer Invitational

2019 1 PGA tour wins

Players Championship

Exempt Status

Winner of PGA Championship or U.S. Open during the past five seasons. (Exempt through September 30, 2019)

Career Highlight

McIlroy won two majors in less than a month in the summer of 2014, taking out the Open Championship at Royal Liverpool and the PGA Championship at Valhalla.

5 Things to Know

How rory mcilroy started playing golf.

McIlroy grew up in Holywood, Northern Ireland and learned golf through his father, Gerry, a former scratch handicap golfer. McIlroy was taken to the driving range aged 18 months, immediately fell in love with the game and joined Holywood Golf Club at an unprecedented age of 7. His parents, Rosie and Gerry, worked extreme hours to support their son’s international junior and amateur golf career. Rosie took extra shifts at a local 3M plant, while Gerry worked 90-hour work weeks. It seemingly paid off when McIlroy won the silver medal for low amateur at the 2007 Open Championship at Carnoustie.

McIlroy's s[plit with Caroline Wozniacki

McIlroy was engaged to women's tennis star Caroline Wozniacki following a romantic proposal on Sydney Harbour in Australia on New Year's Eve in 2013. They were scheduled to marry in New York in 2014, but in May of that year McIlroy called off the engagement only days after the couple had sent out wedding invitations. In various interviews, Danish glamor Wozniacki said McIlroy ended their engagement over a 10-minute phone call. Coincidentally, McIlroy won the European Tour's prestigious BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth days after news of the split surfaced, then went on a tear – winning the Open Championship, WGC-Bridgestone and PGA Championship in the space of two months.

McIlroy's fitness routine

McIlroy has previously faced criticism from many golf pundits, including Brandel Chamblee, for a fitness regime some believed was going too far. Starting in 2010, McIlroy was reportedly working out five times a week for 90 minutes at a time. He added 20 pounds of muscle mass, while dropping his bodyfat percentage from 24 percent to 10. With his ripped physique, McIlroy was the first golfer to appear on the cover of Men's Health magazine. Critics such as Chamblee suggested excess training would leave McIlroy vulnerable to injuries similar to Tiger Woods.

McIlroy's management issues

McIlroy was engaged in a legal battle with former management company, Horizon, which settled in 2015 when McIlroy paid the Dublin agency almost $26 million. McIlroy originally sued Horizon, when he sought to terminate a "limiting" contract signed between the two parties in 2011. Horizon then counter-sued McIlroy for breach of contract and damages. McIlroy split with Horizon in 2013 to form his own management company, Rory McIlroy Inc.

Rory McIlroy's wife Erica

McIlroy started dating former PGA of America employee Erica Stoll in 2015 and the pair were reportedly engaged in December 2015 while on holiday in Paris. The couple married in April 2017 at a lavish ceremony at Ashford Castle in County Mayo, Ireland. McIlroy bought, and moved into, a Jupiter mansion previously owned by Ernie Els after selling his Palm Beach Gardens home for $12.9 million. In January 2019, McIlroy faced controversy for admitting he may forfeit his European Tour membership in favor of focusing on the PGA Tour – admitting that with an American wife and a Florida base, his life and career were transitioning to the U.S.

Things He Does For Fun

Manchester united supporter.

Like many European golfers, McIlroy is a huge soccer fan and keen supporter of Manchester United. He was jeered by fans in his victory speech at the 2014 Open Championship when he told the Liverpool crowd he was a Red Devils fan.

Friends with Niall Horan

McIlroy is a music lover and is a close friend of pop superstar Niall Horan. Horan regularly attends McIlroy's PGA Tour events and has caddied for McIlroy at the par-3 contest at the Masters.

Automobile enthusiast

McIlroy is a known automobile enthusiast, having once purchased a Ferrari F12 from Ian Poulter, while he has also been seen driving such luxury fast cars as a Ferrari F430, Lamborghini Aventador and a Bugatti Veyron.

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Remembering Rory McIlroy's First PGA Tour Win

We look back at Rory McIlroy's first PGA Tour win at the 2010 Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow

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We look back at Rory McIlroy 's first PGA Tour win at the 2010 Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow

Rory McIlroy 's first PGA Tour win was a memorable week and set a precedent for what was to come.

The then-20-year-old McIlroy shot a new course record 10-under-par 62 to blitz the field and become the youngest man to win on the PGA Tour since Tiger Woods.

The Northern Irishman made eight birdies and an eagle to beat Phil Mickelson by four.

He finished with six threes, including a near-tap in eagle on the 15th.

At the time, the victory moved him up to ninth in the world.

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It's easily forgotten that with three holes to play on Friday, the 20-year-old was getting ready for the weekend off, before an eagle sparked his week to life.

McIlroy, who had won his first and only pro tournament 15 months earlier at the Dubai Desert Classic, eventually made the cut on the number. The rest is history.

He summed the round up as "ridiculous".

He said, "I just got in the zone. I saw my shots and just hit them and I saw the line of my putts and they just went in.

"I don't think I've ever played a better round in my life."

Remembering Rory McIlroy's First PGA Tour Win: Gallery and video highlights

McIlroy started the final round four behind leader Billy Mayfair and ended the day 10 ahead of the American.

He began with three pars before a birdie at the par-4 fourth.

He then parred the par-5 next, parred the sixth as well, and then played the closing 12 holes in nine under.

He birdied the par-5 seventh hole (pictured below).

More birdies followed at eight, nine and 11, although he could only par the par-5 10th for his second five of the day.

Pars followed at 12 and 13 before that incredible run of six closing threes, including at the par-5 15th.

He hit a stunning five iron to four feet which he converted for eagle. The youngster was on fire.

A birdie followed at the 16th after hitting out of a fairway bunker to within four feet, before another three at the signature par-3 17th hole.

McIlroy was roaring home, and needed a birdie on the last to come back in 30 for a 62.

Continues below

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The 18th at Quail Hollow is one of the tougher closing holes on the PGA Tour, so that would be a big ask.

After finding the green in two, he finished in stunning fashion, converting a 43 footer for his first PGA Tour title.

The Ulsterman beat Phil Mickelson by four strokes, who described McIlroy as an "amazing talent".

Lefty wasn't wrong, as Rory has gone on to win 24 tournaments including four Majors, as well as four Ryder Cups, the FedEx Cup and two Race to Dubai titles.

He has also spent 95 weeks as #1 in the Official World Golf Ranking.

Watch highlights of McIlroy's final round 62

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQzD2lmhsj0

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For all the latest golf news, check the Golf Monthly website and follow our social media channels

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook , Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!

Elliott is currently playing:

Driver: Titleist TSR4

3 wood: Titleist TSi2

Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1

Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5

Ball: Srixon Z Star XV

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Rory McIlroy's career PGA Tour wins: A list of every event McIlroy has won on Tour

Rory McIlroy earned his 25th PGA Tour title by teaming with Shane Lowry to capture the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

McIlroy is now tied for 23rd on the Tour’s all-time wins list , alongside Tommy Armour, Johnny Miller and Macdonald Smith. The victory moved him out of a tie with Gary Player and Dustin Johnson.

From his first win in 2010 at Quail Hollow to this one at TPC Louisiana, here's a look at McIlroy's career PGA Tour victories.

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Rory McIlroy finishes year as European No 1 despite Jon Rahm’s victory in Dubai

• Spanish golfer wins DP World Tour Championship by two shots
• Matt Fitzpatrick’s struggles ensure McIlroy secures top spot

Rory McIlroy finished the year as European No 1 for the fourth time in his career – and first since 2015 – despite Jon Rahm winning the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.

The Spanish golfer’s two-shot victory over England’s Tyrrell Hatton and Sweden’s Alex Norén was his third in six years at Jumeirah Golf Estates and was worth $3m (£2.5m).

But McIlroy finished the season top of the DP World rankings after Matt Fitzpatrick, his only rival for the Harry Vardon Trophy, blew up around the turn. The US Open champion from June needed to win and for McIlroy to not finish runner-up; or to finish second and the Northern Irishman to be outside the top seven.

But neither of those scenarios transpired as Fitzpatrick, three off the lead playing the 8th, double-bogeyed and then dropped another shot at the 10th to end his chances.

McIlroy did not need any of the fireworks of the previous day, when he powered himself into contention with a 65. While he could have tied Rahm on 20 under had he eagled the last, McIlroy could only manage par for a 68, which included six birdies and four bogeys, to finish fourth.

“It means a lot,” McIlroy told Sky Sports. “It’s been seven years since I’ve last done it. I’ve won three FedEx Cups since I last won.

“I was a model of consistency throughout the year and I think my worst finish in European Tour events was 12th at the start of the year in Abu Dhabi. It would have been nice to get one win in there at the end of the year but Jon played an incredible tournament and fully deserved it.”

Having achieved such consistency, McIlroy will again turn his attention to ending an eight-year major drought. “I’m really proud of my year and I am looking forward to 2023,” he said.

“I just feel when you get to this level it is how you can make those incremental improvements to get better and my goal has been to become a more complete golfer.

“It has taken me seven years to get my hands back on this trophy again; it’s been eight years since I won a major. If I can keep playing the way I’m playing and keep these consistent levels up I will do that.”

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Rahm, who became the first player to win the tournament three times, began the final day with a one-shot lead and opened with two successive birdies to stretch his advantage.

Fitzpatrick’s 28-foot birdie at the 3rd got him to 15 under and within two but things started to unravel with a bogey at the short 6th. Even though he immediately clawed back that dropped shot, the calamitous 8th ultimately did for his hopes. His drive landed in a deep rut in a waste area, his blast out failed to clear the rough and, having flown the green and duffed his chip, he two-putted from the fringe for a six.

That put him five behind and after missing the fairway at the 10th, Fitzpatrick dropped another shot and his challenge was over as he finished 13 under, seven adrift. The only trouble McIlroy, who had three birdies and a bogey in his first four holes, had at the 8th came from the flagstick which kept out his 56ft birdie effort.

He three-putted the 9th but was not the only one as Hatton did the same for his only bogey in a round of 66, while the English golfer could not believe he missed an 11ft eagle putt to tie the lead at the 14th.

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Rory McIlroy’s Historic Open Victory – ‘With This Win’.

RORY MCILROY – 143rd Open Champion – With This win

• It is McIlroy’s seventh European Tour International Schedule victory in his 138 th European Tour event.
•   Moves to €2,634,932 and to the top of The Race to Dubai.
•  It is the fourth  time during his European Tour career he has won more than €2 million in a single European Tour season.
• Will move to second in the Official World Golf Ranking from eighth.
• It is his first victory in The Open Championship in his seventh appearance.
• This victory eclipses his previous best Open Championship performance of tied third in 2010.

• It is third Major Championship victory from his 24 Major appearances. Now has nine top ten finishes from those 24 events.
• He becomes the second player from Northern Ireland to win The Open Championship at Royal Liverpool, following Fred Daly in 1947. (This was the first Irish Major victory).
• He also becomes the third Northern Irishman to win The Open Championship following Fred Daly (1947) and Darren Clarke (2011) and the fifth Irish victory overall in The Open Championship, alongside Padraig Harrington (2007-08).
• McIllroy is the 16 th player in Major Championship history to win three of the four Major Championships. (Is just the second of the 16 to have won three different Majors, 2011 US Open, 2012 USPGA Championship and 2014 Open Championship for their three Major victories. The other player is Tommy Armour, who won the 1927 US Open, 1930 US PGA Championship and 1931 Open Championship).
• He becomes the 44 th different player to win at least three Major Championships.
• McIlroy follows Phil Mickelson in 2013 and make The Open Championship their third different Major they have won.  

OTHER FACTS  

• McIlroy is the first player to win their first three Majors since Padraig Harrington, when he won the 2007-08 Open Championship and 2008 US PGA Championship.
• He becomes the third youngest player in Major Championship history to win three of the four different Major titles, aged 25 years and 77 days. The youngest two are: Jack Nicklaus (23 years and 181 days) and Tiger Woods (24 years and 171 days).
• He is the seventh youngest player in Major Championship history to win their first three Major titles, aged 25 years and 77 days. He is behind: Young Tom Morris (19 years and 148 days), Gene Sarazen (21 years and 172 days), Jack Nicklus (23 years and 181 days), Bobby Jones (24 years and 115 days), Tiger Woods (24 years and 171 days) and Willie Anderson (24 years and 261 days).
• He is the youngest winner of The Open Championship aged 25 years and 77 days, since Tiger Woods, who was 24 years and 206 days when he won in 2000.
• He is the youngest winner of The Open Championship at Royal Liverpool, aged 25 years and 77 days, beating the previous record of Peter Thomson, who was 26 years and 318 days in 1956.
• He is only the sixth European Tour Member to win three or more Major titles, following Sir Nick Faldo (six), Seve Ballesteros (five), Ernie Els (four) and Vijay Singh and Padraig Harrington (both three).
• McIlroy eclipses Seve Ballesteros’ record for being the youngest European Tour Member to win three Majors, aged 25 years and 77 days. Ballesteros was 26 years and two days when he won his third Major at the 1983 Masters Tournament.
• He also becomes the first European Tour Member to win three of the four Major Championships.
• It is the 48 th Major Championship victory by a European Tour Member since 1979.
• It is the second consecutive Major Championship won by a European, following Martin Kaymer at the US Open Championship. Is the first time Europeans have won successive Majors since Rory McIlroy (2011 US Open) and Darren Clarke (2011 Open Championship).
• It is the second consecutive Major Championship won by a European, following Martin Kaymer at the US Open Championship. Is the first time European Tour Members have won successive Majors since Ernie Els (2012 Open Championship) and Rory McIlroy (2012 US PGA Championship).
• Winning The Open Championship in wire-to-wire fashion is his second of his three Major titles he has won in this fashion, following the 2011 US Open Championship.
• McIlroy becomes the tenth wire-to-wire winner in Open Championship history to win with no ties.
• He is the first Open Championship winner to win wire-to-wire with no ties at Royal Liverpool.
• It is the second consecutive wire-to-wire Major Champion, following Martin Kaymer at the US Open Championship.
• The only instances in Major Championship history that successive Major Championships have been won in wire-to-wire history are: The1971 Open Championship where Lee Trevino won. This was followed by Jack Nicklaus at the 1972 Masters Tournament and Nicklaus again at the 1972 US Open. The next was in 2005 by Tiger Woods at The Open Championship and Phil Mickelson at the US PGA Championship.  (However, this would be the first time in history that consecutive Majors have been won wire-to-wire style with no ties in any of the rounds, by Martin Kaymer and Rory McIlroy respectively. (In 1971 Lee Trevino won The Open Championship wire-to-wire with ties and  Jack Nicklaus won the Masters Tournament with no ties but won wire-to-wire with ties at the US Open. Mickelson won the 2005 US PGA Championship wire to wire with ties also).
• It is the third of his European Tour victories he has won in wire-to-wire fashion. They are: 2009 Dubai Desert Classic, 2011 US Open Championship and 2014 Open Championship.
• His win is the sixth wire-to-wire winner of the season overall and five with no ties. The five are: Alejandro Cañizares (Trophée Hassan II), Lee Westwood (Maybank Malaysian Open), Martin Kaymer (US Open Championship), Mikko Ilonen (Irish Open) and Rory McIlroy (The 143 rd Open Championship). This a record for a single European Tour season of wire-to-wire winners with no ties. (The other wire-to-wire winner was Patrick Reed (WGC – Cadillac Championship who tied for the lead after round two).
• It is the fifth of his seven European Tour wins where he had led going into the final round.
• It is the 12 th player this season to win after leading or sharing the lead going into the final round.
• It is also the 64 th time in Open Championship history the third round leader has gone onto win.
• Following his victory at the 2014 BMW PGA Championship and now The 143 rd Open Championship McIlroy becomes only the second multiple winner this season, following Miguel Angel Jiménez (Hong Kong Open and Open de España).
• It is the third time during his European Tour career he has recorded multiple victories in the same season. The other two were 2011 and 2012, both his previous Major wining years.
• He is the fifth player after Tony Jacklin, Arnold Palmer, Sir Nick Faldo and Seve Ballesteros to win the BMW PGA Championship and The Open Championship, but the first to achieve the feat in the same year.
• McIlroy becomes the 52 nd Northern Irish win in European Tour history.
• And he celebrates becoming the 100 th Irish victory overall in European Tour history, 52 by Northern Ireland and 48 by the Republic of Ireland.
• He now has earned over €19 million in European Tour Official Career Earnings.
• He earned also his largest European Tour prize of €1,223,499.
• He extends his European Tour exemption until the end of the 2021 season.
• Earns a place in the 2014 PGA Grand Slam of Golf.
• Moves to 3,051,297 in the 2014 European Ryder Cup Points Table and 358.26 in The Ryder Cup World Points List.
• It is his 13 th victory as a professional and second of 2014 following the BMW PGA Championship.

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Rory McIlroy claims record fourth Dubai Desert Classic victory and first DP World Tour win of season

Rory McIlroy becomes the first four-time winner of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic; McIlroy's win follows a runner-up finish at the Dubai Invitational and moves him top of the Race to Dubai rankings; Adrian Meronk claimed second ahead of Cameron Young

By Ali Stafford

Monday 22 January 2024 06:08, UK

Rory McIlroy successfully defended his Hero Dubai Desert Classic title and secured a record fourth victory at the event after completing an impressive one-shot win.

McIlroy was 10 strokes off the halfway lead before charging into contention with a third-round 63 at Emirates Golf Club, taking him within two shots of Cameron Young, then pulled clear of the field during an impressive final-round display.

The world No 2 moved into a share of the lead inside the opening four holes and grabbed the solo advantage at the sixth after errors from both Young and Adrian Meronk, with back-to-back birdies from the eighth seeing McIlroy reach the turn with a three-stroke cushion.

Final leaderboard

-14 Rory McIlroy (NIrl)

-13 Adrian Meronk (Pol)

-12 Cameron Young (USA)

Others: -10 Joaquin Niemann (Chi), Aaron Cockerill (Can), Pablo Larrazabal (Esp); -9 Adam Scott (Aus); -7 Tommy Fleetwood (Eng)

• Recap: Rory McIlroy's win as it happened | Full Dubai Desert Classic leaderboard
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McIlroy saw his advantage cut from four to one when Meronk posted back-to-back birdies on the back nine, although the four-time major champion carded a two-under 70 to hold off the chasing pack and claim a first win of the year.

Dubai delight for McIlroy

McIlroy produced a sensational tee shot at the par-four second, driving the green and two-putting from 30 feet for birdie, while Meronk also moved within one of Young by taking advantage of the par-five third.

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Young missed the chance to double his lead from inside four feet at the fourth then bogeyed the sixth after seeing his tee shot stop next to a tree stump, as McIlroy got up and down from the sand to save par to temporarily make it a three-way tie at the top.

Meronk found the water on his way to double-bogeying the seventh and Young missed a shot on the same par-three, as McIlroy produced a sensational save from the back of the seventh green to take a one-shot lead.

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McIlroy responded to an average approach into the par-four next by nailing a big breaking putt from 30 feet and added another birdie at the ninth to reach the turn in 33, although failed to take advantage of the par-five 10th to allow Young to move back within two with a birdie.

Young bogeyed his next two holes to briefly move McIlroy four clear, only for the Northern Irishman to give hope for the field when he sprayed his tee shot into trees at the 13th on his way to a bogey-six.

Meronk responded by posting back-to-back birdies from the 13th to get within one but then lost ground with a bogey at the 16th after driving into some thick rough, as McIlroy went on a run of two-putt pars to restore control of the tournament.

Young kept his slim hopes alive when he converted from 25 feet at the 16th to join Meronk in tied-second but bogeyed the next, allowing McIlroy to take a two-shot advantage to the par-five last.

McIlroy found the rough at the back left of the green with his second shot and pitched well to 10 feet, then two-putted for the par required to finish a shot clear of Meronk and claim a first win of 2024.

Rory McIlroy wins the Hero Dubai Desert Classic for a fourth time 🏆 #DubaiDesertClassic | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/2Lvg4aMjB3 — DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) January 21, 2024

A one-under 71 saw Meronk - the DP World Tour Player of the Year - claim second ahead of Young, who birdied the last to close a final-round 74, while Joaquin Niemann shared fourth with Aaron Cockerill and Pablo Larrazabal.

Haotong Li, Nicolai Hojgaard, Masahiro Kawamura and Adam Scott rounded off the top 10, as Tommy Fleetwood - who pipped McIlroy to Dubai Invitational victory last week - ended in tied-14th.

'Great start to the season' for McIlroy

McIlroy's victory follows his runner-up finish at the Dubai Invitational last Sunday, with the reigning Race to Dubai champion confident of building on his fast start to 2024 over the coming months.

"It's a great start to the season," McIlroy said after his victory. "I started well last year here with the win here but it was a little more dramatic on the last green compared to today.

"It's a great platform to build from. I know I'm playing good golf and there are still a couple of misses, off the tee left - one got me on 18 last week and I missed one today on the 13th and one on 16 as well which nearly cost me as well.

"A couple of little things to work on but these weeks are great and you learn a tonne from them. Then it's great to have the competition and come out on top as well."

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Brandel Chamblee Says Rory McIlroy’s Team Title Should Count Less Than Individual Wins

Rory McIlroy's win with Shane Lowry at the Zurich Classic was his 25th official title, as the Tour doesn't distinguish between formats in all-time win totals.

• Author: Bob Harig

Rory McIlroy joined some fine company when he captured the Zurich Classic of New Orleans along with his partner, Shane Lowry, on Sunday.

The victory was the 25th of his PGA Tour career and tied him with Johnny Miller, Tommy Armour and Macdonald Smith for 23rd all-time on the PGA Tour victory list. He moved one win ahead of Gary Player and Dustin Johnson.

The only active player on the PGA Tour ahead of McIlroy is Tiger Woods with 82.

Rory McIlroy now has 24 individual wins on the PGA Tour and one team win, with Shane Lowry at last week's Zurich Classic.

Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

But does the win deserve some sort of other designation or asterisk?

Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee said as much via a social media post.

And he took it further by saying that Woods should be the all-time victory leader with 82—and not tied with Sam Snead, who has five team victories that count as part of his total. Woods has none.

“Most golf fans, if not ALL golf fans assume 'individual’ wins when a player’s total tour wins are named … but Sam Snead has 5 teams counted against his 82 wins while Tiger has ZERO team wins in his 82 wins … so I ask you who has won the most tour events of all time??? It is Tiger,” Chamblee said.

Team wins should have their own category amongst “tour wins”… most golf fans, if not ALL golf fans assume “individual” wins when a player’s total tour wins are named… but Sam Snead has 5 team wins counted amongst his 82 wins while Tiger has ZERO team wins in his 82 wins… so I… https://t.co/TYC1ItRlwJ — Brandel Chamblee (@chambleebrandel) April 29, 2024

It is certainly an interesting discussion.

Woods joined Snead with 82 official victories when he captured the 2019 Zozo Championship.

Snead is credited with his 82nd victory at the 1965 Greater Greensboro Classic. His total was altered several times over the years as the Tour sought to find better records. His first victory came in 1936 and for a time he was credited with 84 before the PGA Tour twice changed it, first to 81 and then to 82.

Snead captured team victories with Vic Ghezzi in 1936, with Ralph Guldahl in 1939 and 1940 and with Jim Ferrier in 1950 and 1952.

Team events were a far more prominent part of the schedule in Snead’s time. Byron Nelson is credited with two team victories, including the first of his record 11 in a row in 1945, with Jug McSpaden.

Throughout Woods’s career, he has never played in an official team event on the PGA Tour.

Jack Nicklaus, who has 73 victories to rank third all time, has two wins that were with a partner—both with Arnold Palmer. The events were in 1970 and 1971, called the National Four-Ball Team Championship followed by the National Team Championship. (The event was played six times from 1965 through 1971 and Nicklaus and Palmer also won it when it was not official.)

Palmer’s 62 PGA Tour victories include his two wins with Nicklaus.

And to take this farther … Ben Hogan, who won 64 times, has eight team wins, six of them with Jimmy Demaret.

With his next victory, McIlroy will tie Henry Picard with 26.

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Rory McIlroy prize money after claiming first PGA Tour win of 2024 with Shane Lowry 

The Ryder Cup teammates beat Chad Ramey and Martin Trainer in a play-off at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans

• 10:08, 29 APR 2024

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Rory McIlroy secured his first PGA Tour title of 2024 with a win alongside Shane Lowry in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

The Ryder Cup teammates beat Chad Ramey and Martin Trainer in a play-off after Lowry sunk a three-foot putt in the final hole for a birdie and a round of 68 to tee for the lead.

A par on the first play-off hole was good enough for McIlroy and Lowry with Frenchman Trainer missing is par putt.

Read more: Watch Rory McIlroy belt out a karaoke classic after claiming victory with Shane Lowry

McIlroy won the Hero Dubai Desert Classic back in January, but this was his first win of the season on the PGA Tour, his 25th title overall, and is a timely boost ahead of the second major of the year - the US PGA at Valhalla from May 16.

The win also marked Lowry’s third PGA Tour win and the Offaly native said he felt McIlroy carried him throughout the tournament.

“It’s great. It felt much-needed. Coming into the week we felt we could do with a big jump for the FedEx Cup, let’s get 400 points each and that’s what we’ve done,” said Lowry.

“I feel a little bit bad taking them because Rory carried me, but I’m taking them.”

“It’s absolutely amazing,” McIlroy told CBS Sports.

“We’ve had an awesome week here in New Orleans. The crowds have been absolutely amazing, to get the support we’ve had out there. We’ve had so much fun while doing it and it’s just a bonus to win at the end. It couldn’t be better than to do it with this man alongside me.”

McIlroy and Lowry both pocketed $1.2million, which is a little over one million sterling, with Ramey and Trainer taking home $525,100 after losing the play-off.

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Irish eyes smile upon Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry in Zurich Classic of New Orleans triumph

Duo outlasts chad ramey/martin trainer in playoff at tpc louisiana.

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When Martin Trainer missed his par-saving, playoff-extending putt late Sunday at TPC Louisiana, the Irish lads – you couldn’t really call them anything else, could you? – looked at each other and hugged. Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy had won the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

Lowry lifted McIlroy up in a colossal embrace, and the celebration was on.

The duo – friends for a quarter century, nearby homeowners in South Florida and weekly playdate pals with their young kids – turned things around Sunday after a tough start and walked away PGA TOUR winners, again.

“We went out there, we had loads of fun, and we won the tournament. You couldn’t ask for a better week,” Lowry said.

“To win any PGA TOUR event is very cool, but to do it with one of your closest friends … Think about where we met and where we've come from, to be on this stage and do this together – just awesome to be able to do it alongside this guy,” McIlroy added.

For McIlroy, it was his 25th TOUR title, his third in a tournament debut. He now has at least one win in seven consecutive PGA TOUR seasons. Lowry won for the first time on TOUR since the 2019 Open Championship, his third TOUR win overall.

Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry news conference after winning Zurich Classic

McIlroy and Lowry were the expected champions, given the lack of proven winners around them on the leaderboard heading into Sunday. But no one could have predicted Trainer and Chad Ramey zipping 25 spots up the leaderboard in the final round after a format-tying 9-under 63. They were waiting around for upwards of three hours before finding out they would be in a playoff.

And even though McIlroy and Lowry were the favorites, that doesn’t mean the win was guaranteed.

Lowry said at breakfast Sunday they noticed how much the trees were whipping and yet, Ramey and Trainer shot “an unbelievable score.” Lowry and McIlroy were 1-over through six holes and needed to make something happen quickly – and that’s exactly what they did.

“To play the last 12 holes in 5-under I think was very, very good," Lowry said. "It showed a lot about our character and how much we wanted to win this thing,”

Lowry is about two years older than McIlroy; the duo first represented Ireland at the 2007 European Amateur Team Championship. They were European Ryder Cup teammates in both Wisconsin and Rome. And they played together at the Olympics in 2021, something they’re hoping to do again this summer in Paris.

“I know to go back to Ireland with an Olympic medal would be like a dream,” Lowry said.

“I was in a seven-way playoff in Tokyo for a bronze medal, and I’ve never tried so hard to finish third in my life,” added McIlroy.

This was McIlroy’s fourth straight week of TOUR competition, and Lowry’s third straight. There were no signs of fatigue from either man late Sunday at TPC Louisiana, with McIlroy knocking his drive on the par-5 18th in regulation upwards of 350 yards. Lowry, with a laugh, said he wasn’t sure what to do from the position his partner had left him in.

Rory McIlroy’s clutch 72nd hole chip yields tying birdie at Zurich Classic

This wouldn’t be considered a breakthrough victory for either player, given their long-standing pedigree and solid starts to 2024 (Lowry had two top-five finishes in Florida, while McIlroy won on the DP World Tour earlier this year and finished third at the Valero Texas Open earlier this month), but their easy chemistry in Louisiana could be a harbinger of good things to come.

The fans in New Orleans, too, seemed to buoy the boys. There were chants of "Rory, Rory," and there was a story relayed on the CBS broadcast of Lowry and McIlroy getting a standing ovation when they left dinner on Saturday night at Arnaud’s, a jazzy, 100-year-old fine-dining spot in New Orleans' French Quarter.

“It's not lost on me how cool that is. Every time I get to play in front of thousands of people, the little boy in me just thinks it's so cool and so exciting,” McIlroy said. “The crowd really made the weekend.”

“Rory brings a crowd, and people love him. We've got a lot of love this week in New Orleans, and we've had just the best week,” added Lowry.

What now, though? It was a big week and a big win for some of the TOUR’s most affable players. For Lowry, he’s earned his way into the rest of the Signature Events on the 2024 schedule, and it’s “freed him up,” he said. For McIlroy, he had exited big events like THE PLAYERS and the Masters with a few more questions about his game and its overall direction. This week, though, McIlroy reflected on why he and Lowry, all those years ago back home, started playing golf – because it was fun.

“I think sort of reinjecting a little bit of that fun back into it in a week like this week – it can always help,” McIlroy said.

“Hopefully we can both kick on now,” Lowry said of good things to come. “It was great fun all week, everything about it was just brilliant.”

When Irish eyes are smiling, it leads to a PGA TOUR victory.

Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry combine to win PGA TOUR's Zurich Classic of New Orleans

From representing Ireland as amateurs to being teammates at a Ryder Cup and Olympic Games, there is not much Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry have not achieved alongside each other. But a victory on the PGA TOUR as a duo was one – until now.

The Major Championship-winning pair – friends for more than two decades – teamed up to come through a play-off to win the Zurich Classic of New Orleans on Sunday. 

Lowry capitalised on a super chip on to the 18th green by McIlroy by sinking a birdie putt for a 68 to force extra holes as they joined Chad Ramey and Martin Trainer on 25 under at TPC Louisiana.

American Ramey and Frenchman Trainer had earlier shot a nine-under-par 63 in the final round foursomes to vault up the leaderboard and set the clubhouse target.  

A par at the first play-off hole, the par-five 18th, proved enough for McIlroy and Lowry after Trainer missed from six feet to extend the contest.

“To win any PGA TOUR event is very cool, but to do it with one of your closest friends … Think about where we met and where we've come from, to be on this stage and do this together – just awesome to be able to do it alongside this guy,” McIlroy said.

Still winning together ☘️🏆 @PGATOUR | @Zurich_Classic pic.twitter.com/RiioCe2ZGy — DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) April 28, 2024

McIlroy and Lowry, who began the day two shots behind Zac Blair and Patrick Fishburn, were one over through six holes, before finding their mojo to play the final 12 holes in five-under.

"It showed a lot about our character and how much we wanted to win this thing,” Lowry said.

For McIlroy, it was his 25th PGA TOUR title, while for Lowry it was his first since victory at The Open in 2019.

“It's not lost on me how cool that is. Every time I get to play in front of thousands of people, the little boy in me just thinks it's so cool and so exciting,” McIlroy said. “The crowd really made the weekend.”

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Team of Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry win Zurich Classic in Sunday playoff

NEW ORLEANS — Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry came from behind to win the Zurich Classic — the PGA Tour ’s lone team event — on Sunday in a playoff against Martin Trainer and Chad Ramey. McIlroy-Lowry had to birdie 18 to force a playoff, and a par on the first playoff hole was enough as Trainer missed a short putt to hand the win to the Irishmen.

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The win is McIlroy’s 25th career PGA Tour win and Lowry’s third. The two friends have been teammates on the last two European Ryder Cup teams and played a fourball match as a pair in 2021. McIlroy decided to come play in the event for the first time after a “drunken lunch” with Lowry after the Ryder Cup.

Now, he might be back next year to defend his win.

Rory McIlroy sang Journey in New Orleans. He also won the golf tournament

The two were five back of the lead entering the seventh hole thanks to two early bogeys, but then McIlroy and Lowry went on a heater. They birdied 7, 8, 10 and 11 to get back in the mix thanks to standout play from McIlroy, and the duo had a crucial par save on No. 13 as Lowry hit a great recovery from a chunked approach from McIlroy.

On No. 16, McIlroy hit iron off the tee and put it in a bunker, but Lowry put his bunker shot to the center of the green and set McIlroy up for the birdie to tie the lead. A bogey on 17 could have taken the duo out of it with Trainer and Ramey in the clubhouse for hours already at 25-under. But McIlroy launched a drive 50 yards past his group and two shots later hit a clutch, spinny chip to easily birdie for a playoff.

It’s McIlroy’s first win since the Scottish Open in July and Lowry’s first since a 2022 DP World Tour win.

Required reading

• Rory McIlroy interested in return to PGA Tour policy board: ‘I think I can be helpful’

(Photo: Jonathan Bachman / Getty Images)

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Brody Miller covers golf and the LSU Tigers for The Athletic. He came to The Athletic from the New Orleans Times-Picayune. A South Jersey native, Miller graduated from Indiana University before going on to stops at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Indianapolis Star, the Clarion Ledger and NOLA.com. Follow Brody on Twitter @ BrodyAMiller

Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry win Zurich Classic in playoff

Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry hang on to win the Zurich Classic in a playoff after Martin Trainer misses a close-range putt. (0:56)

• Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS -- Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry received a standing ovation when they showed up at historic, creole French Quarter restaurant Arnaud's on the eve of their final round at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans team event.

They also had the largest, loudest galleries at the TPC Louisiana, where the charismatic, 34-year-old McIlroy, had not previously played.

"He's getting old, but he still moves the needle a little bit," Lowry joked as McIlroy chuckled. "Rory brings a crowd and people love him and we've gotten a lot of love in New Orleans. We've had just the best week."

McIlroy and Lowry won Sunday, beating Chad Ramey and Martin Trainer with a nervy par on the first hole of a playoff.

Trainer pushed a 6-foot par putt to the right of the cup to end it, with Lowry lifting a laughing McIlroy off the ground with a bear hug on the green.

"To win any PGA Tour event is very cool, but to do it with one of your closest friends -- we've known each other for a long, long time, probably like over 20 years," McIlroy said. "To think about where we met and where we've come from, to be on this stage and do this together -- really, really cool journey that we've been a part of."

McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, won his 25th PGA Tour title and first of the season. Lowry, of Ireland, claimed his third PGA Tour victory. Each walked away with about $1.29 million and 400 FedEx Cup points apiece.

"People have come out in the thousands to support us. It's not lost on me how cool that is," McIlroy said. "Every time I get to play in front of thousands of people, the little boy in me just thinks it's so cool and so exciting."

The Irish tandem closed with a 4-under 68 in the alternate-shot final round in windy conditions to match Ramey and Trainer at 25-under 263.

Ramey and Trainer began the day tied for 27th at 16 under and shot to the top of the leaderboard with nine birdies between the seventh and 18th holes. They tied the alternate-shot tournament record of 63, but then had to wait nearly three hours to see if their lead would stand up.

"That was to our advantage," McIlroy said. "I feel for Martin and Chad a little bit. They played an unbelievable round of golf. To shoot 63 out there in those conditions in foursomes is super impressive."

Trainer opened the playoff hole by pulling his drive into the left rough. Ramey also yanked his approach left off the cart path and into the wall below the suites around the 18th green. Trainer then chipped short before Ramey finally got his team on the green.

"Obviously, golf is hard, and sometimes it doesn't go your way," Trainer said. "We did the best we could and had a chance, and that's all you can ask for, really."

Ramey said he and Trainer were disappointed, but stressed that, "There's a lot of really good things to take from this week, and that's what I'm going to do."

"To win any PGA Tour event is very cool, but to do it with one of your closest friends -- we've known each other for a long, long time, probably like over 20 years. To think about where we met and where we've come from, to be on this stage and do this together -- really, really cool journey that we've been a part of." Rory McIlroy

Lowry narrowly missed his mark twice on the playoff hole, putting an approach in a bunker and then leaving a birdie putt for the victory on the edge of the cup.

But Lowry had come through when he had to on the final regulation hole, forcing the playoff with a short birdie putt on the par-5 18th, capitalizing on McIlroy's deft lofted chip from the apron that stopped close to the pin.

Ryan Brehm and Mark Hubbard nearly made the playoff as well. Needing a birdie, they went long off the 18th green on their second shot. Hubbard's chip up the back apron stopped short on the fringe, but Brehm still nearly sank a birdie putt, leaving the ball near the right edge of the cup as the crowd gasped. They finished third at 24 under.

Former BYU teammates Patrick Fishburn and Zach Blair, the leaders through three rounds, were still tied for the lead heading to the par-3 17th, only to make a double bogey after Blair's tee shot landed right of the green and Fishburn chipped short. They wound up in a four-way tie for fourth at 23 under.

McIlroy and Lowry began the day two shots off the lead. They opened the round with Lowry's tee shot into the woods on the right side of the hole, and they bogeyed two of their first three holes before beginning their charge on the seventh, where McIlroy made the first of four birdie putts over the next five holes.

McIlroy had two mishits down the stretch that could have been costly, leaving an approach shot well short of the green on the par-4 13th and hitting short into a fairway bunker on the short par-4 16th.

Lowry chipped to about 10 feet, and McIlroy saved par on 13. On 16, Lowry found the left side of the green with his approach shot from the sand and McIlroy sank a right-breaking birdie putt to lift his team into a tie for first at 25-under.

"Being able to rely on each other a little bit, I think that's what really helped us," McIlroy said.

The Irishmen bogeyed 17 after Lowry's faded tee shot landed in the gallery right of the green and McIlroy's chip over the ridge of a bunker ran past the hole.

That meant they would have to have a birdie on 18 to force a playoff. They got it, starting with McIlroy's clutch, booming tee shot into the water-lined fairway.

Before leaving the TPC Louisiana grounds, McIlroy and Lowry walked on stage while the New Orleans-based 1980s cover band The Molly Ringwalds was performing a post-tournament concert. The band gave McIlroy a microphone, and he serenaded the crowd, singing Journey's "Don't Stop Believin.'"

"The reason that Shane and I both started to play golf is because we thought it was fun at some stage in our life," McIlroy said. "Reinjecting a little bit of that fun back into it in a week like this week, it can always help."

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2024 Zurich Classic leaderboard, grades: Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry battle back to notch key win in playoff

Sunday's achievement marked the 25th victory of mcilroy's pga tour career and lowry's second in the united states.

Rory McIlroy has accomplished another first on the PGA Tour. Teaming up with Shane Lowry at the 2024 Zurich Classic, the two emerged victorious over Martin Trainer & Chad Ramey in a playoff at TPC Louisiana. McIlroy & Lowry made birdie on the final hole of regulation in the foursomes format to reach 25 under -- the number that Trainer & Ramey held as a clubhouse lead -- before making par on the first extra hole to grab the title.

The victory marks the 25th of McIlroy's PGA Tour career, pulling him past Dustin Johnson and Gary Player. He now stands alongside Tommy Armour, Johnny Miller and Macdonald Smith with that many wins. It also represents Lowry's third win on the PGA Tour and his first in the United States since the 2015 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.

With the victory, Lowry gains access to the remaining big-money PGA Tour signature events this season: Wells Fargo Championship, the Memorial and Travelers Championship. He will also benefit next season as he'll be able to start his season at The Sentry.

"It feels absolutely amazing," McIlroy said. "We've had an awesome week here in New Orleans. ... It feels like it's just a bonus to win at the end, but [it] couldn't be better to have this man alongside me to get a PGA Tour win together."

McIlroy & Lowry started the day just off the pace of 54-hole leaders Patrick Fishburn & Zac Blair. The two struggled early in their final round as the competition transitioned to the foursomes format. Lowry put McIlroy in a couple spots of bother on holes Nos. 1 and 3, leading to early bogeys which sandwiched a birdie on the par-5 2nd.

This was nothing new for the Irish team as they became familiar with sluggish starts this week. The duo caught fire a few holes later around the turn rattling off four birdies in a five-hole stretch to catapult themselves back onto the first page of the leaderboard.

The birdies subsided on the difficult back nine, but one from the blade of McIlroy arrived on the par-4 16th. After hitting his tee shot in the fairway bunker with an iron in hand, McIlroy made amends connecting from just inside 20 feet after Lowry hit a pearl from the sand.

McIlroy's short-game prowess was unable to make up for the mistake off the tee on the 17th leading to an immediate bogey; that meant the two needed birdie on the last to force a playoff with Trainer & Ramey. The birdie came courtesy of a stellar spinner from the wedge of McIlroy, which left Lowry little worry over the putt to tie the clubhouse lead.

On the first playoff hole, McIlroy & Lowry were never out of position as they found the fairway and slid into the greenside bunker in two on the par-5 18th. Meanwhile, Ramey & Trainer struggled after their 3-hour layoff, hitting a number of poor shots. Despite this, Trainer still had a par putt from inside 10 feet to extend the playoff, though it never sniffed the hole and left him dejected.

"It's been an amazing week," McIlroy said. "I had never been here before. Shane has been here a handful of times, and we went out to some really nice dinners and people could not have been more hospitable or nicer to us during the week. I'd say we're going to come back and defend next year." Grade: A+

Rick Gehman, Patrick McDonald, Greg DuCharme and Mark Immelman recap Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry's win in the Big Easy. Follow & listen to The First Cut on  Apple Podcasts  and  Spotify .

Here are the grades for the rest of the notables on the leaderboard at the 2024 Zurich Classic

10. Adam Hadwin & Nick Taylor (-21): The Canadian duo got off to a great start Sunday with birdies on both front-nine par 5s. Getting within two strokes of the lead, Taylor & Hadwin appeared primed to replicate last year's final-round heroics where they fired a 9-under 63. Unfortunately, once they creeped onto the first page of the leaderboard, they began to head in the wrong direction with a bogey on Nos. 9 and 12. Coming off a runner-up finish in 2023, Taylor & Hadwin once again put together a solid showing alongside each other and may make captain Mike Weir consider the partnership in Montreal later this year. Grade: B+

T23. Collin Morikawa  &  Kurt Kitayama (-18): These two were effective together but didn't possess enough firepower. Their first-round four ball consisted of just six birdies, and they added two more in Friday foursomes to make the cut on the number. They remained bogey-free up until the par-3 17th on Saturday, but by then, the peloton had passed them. Kitayama remains solid from tee to green while Morikawa continues to move in the right direction with his game. Grade: C+

T23. Patrick Cantlay  &  Xander Schauffele (-18): Given their history in both this event and national team competitions, Schauffele & Cantlay disappointed. They came into the week as the betting favorites and held a share of the lead through 35 holes thanks to a massive effort in Friday foursomes. Only then did the struggles begin as the two made bogey to polish off their second rounds, fell flat during Saturday's four ball format and were too far behind to make any noise Sunday. They are both approaching two years since their last wins. Grade: C-

MC. Sahith Theegala  &  Will Zalatoris (--): This new team was solid in the opening round with a 7-under 65 but back tracked in foursomes. It's not all that surprising given the fresh nature of the relationship and the time it often takes for players to get comfortable with one another in foursomes. Both players are in fine form so we shouldn't put too much stock into their early exit. They could conceivably be teammates again on Team USA for the 2024 Presidents Cup this upcoming fall. Grade: F

Playoff update

Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy are in the greenside bunker in two although McIlroy may have an awkward stance for what would otherwise be a pretty standard up-and-down. Meanwhile, Ramey blasts their second wayyyyy left. They might be pin high but about 50 yards away with little green to work with. Advantage McIlroy/Lowry.

Let's do this

Playoff format.

The two teams will play 18-9-18-9 (Foursomes-Fourball). Both of these teams made birdie on 18 in regulation in the final round in the foursomes format. If they tie, they will head to the par-3 9th and play four-ball (the format from Rounds 1 and 3).

McIlroy/Lowry tie clubhouse lead at 25 under

A birdie on the last will force a playoff between McIlroy/Lowry and Trainer/Ramey. Zac Blair and Patrick Fishburn need eagle on the last to join the party.

Blair/Fishburn make a mess of 17

Well, that may do it for this team. They make their second double bogey on a par 3 and it will be the final nail in the coffin. They drop two off the lead and will need eagle on the last to join a playoff. Meanwhile, Shane Lowry has…oh, I don't know…2 feet for birdie on 18 to tie Martin Trainer and Chad Ramey at 25 under.

McIlroy/Lowry bogey

Not a great hole from Shane Lowry on 17. He bails out way right to avoid the water and puts McIlroy in a pickle. He did well to give Shane a par look from 15 feet, but he was unable to convert. The two head to 18 where they MUST birdie to tie the clubhouse lead.

Rory's putt on 16

Rory rolls one in.

The Irishmen are tied for the lead! Rory McIlroy rolls one in after Shane Lowry hit a great approach from the fairway bunker to reach 25 under. That may spell the end of Martin Trainer and Chad Ramey's chances in the clubhouse. Meanwhile, Zac Blair misses a 10-foot birdie bid on 15 which would have pushed them to 26 under. The three teams are tied at the top.

Good finish upcoming

The birdies are coming from the final few groups. Rory McIlroy/Shane Lowry have gotten to 24 under. Lowry just missed an 8 footer to tie the lead (see below). Ryan Brehm has knocked in two birdies in a row to get to 24 under while Zac Blair faces a putt to get to 26 under a hole behind.

Here they come!

Blair/fishburn drop two.

That's what can happen in alternate shot. Zac Blair finds the water on No. 9 and then misses a 6-foot putt for bogey. They are now 24 under and one behind the clubhouse leaders who are sitting pretty. Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry have tacked on three straight birdies and eye a fourth on the par-5 11th which would push them to 24 under.

Back-to-back birdies 

Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy take advantage of the par-5 7th and tack on another on the par-4 8th. They are now 22 under and three off the lead in the clubhouse (and in their group).

Fishburn flagging pins!

Clubhouse leaders, ramey/trainer post clubhouse lead.

The two are 25 under and one clear of the field.

Ramey/Trainer look to post

The hottest players on the golf course are coming up on their final hole. The two have gotten to 24 under which is now one behind Patrick Fishburn and Zac Blair and they will aim to match them and post the clubhouse lead at that very number. They are 8 under and would match the tournament low in alternate shot should they birdie 18.

Shane struggling

The team of Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry have carded two bogeys in their first three holes in large part because of Shane Lowry. A poor drive on No. 1 leads to a bogey and a poor tee shot and short missed putt on No. 3 leads to another. They made birdie on No. 2, but they are now four adrift from the two teams at the top.

Two at the top

Martin Trainer and Chad Ramey have joined the lead at 23 under. The two are out in front on the golf course and have gotten to 7 under through their first 13 holes. That is an incredible round in foursomes and they will hope to tack on probably two more birdies to post 25 under.

McIlroy/Lowry get underway

Let's see what the overnight betting favorites can do. They start the day two behind the leaders after rounds of 61 and 64 in the four-ball format. The two shot 2-under 70 in foursomes on Friday and will probably need to improve upon that given the crowded nature of this leaderboard. I'm keeping an eye on Lowry's putter as either a catalyst or hindrance to this squad.

Cantlay/Schauffele get within four

Can the 2022 champions be the team to post a score? A birdie on No. 11 gets them to 19 under and four behind the leaders. They have seven holes left and would love to add maybe four more birdies to get to that 23-under number and force the leaders to post something under par on difficult, windy day.

Here they come

Chesson Hadley and Greyson Sigg turn in 5-under 31 and are now within two of Zac Blair and Patrick Fishburn. 5 under is no small feat in alternate shot and they will now have a chance to post something for the leaders to look at. The record in foursomes in 63 shot a couple times last year.

Sigg/Hadley showing the way

The Georgia Tech and Georgia duo has creeped inside the top five thanks to a fast start. The two are now 4 under through their first six holes and only three behind Fishburn and Blair at 23 under. 

Today's forecast

Weather update.

The wind is up and it looks like some scary clouds might be rolling into the area. Rain is expected around 2 p.m. local, but hopefully it will skirt past without any delays. Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay meanwhile are hot out the gates with a pair of opening birdies to get within five strokes of the leaders.

Cantlay/Schauffele in foursomes

The two have carded rounds of 63-66-66 in their last three foursomes rounds in this tournament. Once again it appears the easier four-ball format will be the death of this team as they aimed to win their second title in the last three seasons. They begin the day seven strokes off the pace and, who knows, if they can shoot something like 63 again maybe they have an outside chance.

Final-round action underway

The teams transition to foursomes (alternate shot) for the deciding final round at TPC Louisiana. This traditionally favors the stronger teams which is music to the ears of the betting favorites Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy. They won't go off for a little while, so in the meantime let's see if Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele can make a push.

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McIlroy And Lowry Win Zurich Classic

Highlights: Zurich Classic Final Round

Zurich Classic Recap: Can McIlroy Get Over His Struggles

Zurich Classic On-Site: McIlroy/Lowry Wins Zurich Classic In Team Debut

Zurich Classic Recap: McIlroy/Lowry Win Zurich Classic

Highlights: Ramey/Trainer Misses Putt In Playoffs

Highlights: Zurich Classic Round 3

Blair/Fishburn Best Moments Of Round 3 At The Zurich Classic

On-Site Recap: Zurich Classic Round 3

Blair/Fishburn Leads After Round 3 At The Zurich Classic

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Pick To Win Zurich Classic After 3 Rounds

Highlights: Zurich Classic Round 1

Scottie Scheffler Wins RBC Heritage

RBC Heritage On-Site Reaction: Scottie Scheffler Leads After Sunday

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Zurich Classic of New Orleans

TPC Louisiana

COMPETE IN THE GOLF DIGEST OPEN

Two-person best ball.

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Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry’s win might be as good as the Zurich Classic ever gets

Chris Graythen

Martin Trainer’s hands left his putter, his eyes closed and his head rolled to the sky, and the cheers that echoed signaled the people saw what they had come to see. The proceedings were exciting and the finish dramatic. One of its central characters was the most popular player in the sport. There were multiple stumbles in critical moments—including on the last stroke of the day—and though we don’t need reminders that golf is democratic in its cruelty, those falters are noteworthy because pressure only exists when what’s on the line matters. When Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry were the two left standing, the immediate takeaway was the golf this week was quite good.

And it’s worth asking if this is as good as this tournament is going to get.

McIlroy and Lowry defeated Trainer and Chad Ramey in a playoff at TPC Louisiana to capture the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

“Look, it's disappointing for the lads to finish the way they did,” Lowry said, after the 5 he and McIlroy carded beat Trainer and Ramey’s 6 on the first hole of sudden death. “But we've had just the best week. Anytime this man wants to partner with me, I'll be happy to do so.”

Let’s start with the present, which is McIlroy and Lowry, although to understand how they got here we must go to the past. Over a post-Ryder Cup victory lunch last fall filled with adult libations, McIlroy and Lowry decided to join forces for the tour’s lone regular-season team event. The two quickly put the Hemingway adage of “Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk; that will teach you to keep your mouth shut” to rest with an opening 61. They survived Friday foursomes with a 70 and came back with a best-ball 64 to earn a spot in the penultimate pairing behind Zac Blair and Patrick Fishburn and Luke List and Henrik Norlander.

RELATED: Here’s the prize money payout for each player at the Zurich Classic

It was another pair in Trainer and Ramey that stole the Sunday spotlight, putting together a nine-under 63 in alternate shot to take the clubhouse lead at 25 under with hours to go until the final groups finished. It was a lead they admitted they didn’t think would stand, but the damnedest thing happened, as all those teams in the final pairings continued to stall out as the wind came up. List and Norlander made the turn in two over and things did not improve on the back. Ryan Brehm had a fantastic ball-striking display but partner Mark Hubbard missed a handful of makeable birdie putts and they couldn’t make 4 on the par-5 18th to earn a spot into the playoff. Blair and Fishburn had a share of the lead until the par-3 17th. Blair aired his tee shot to the right, Fisburn flubbed a chip, Blair missed the 25-foot save and Fishburn missed the comebacker. McIlroy and Lowry needed a birdie at the final hole just for the chance at extra holes, which they did thanks to a nifty third from McIlroy and a pure stroke from Lowry.

Though McIlroy and Lowry were fan favorites it wasn’t hard to be sympathetic for Ramey and Trainer, especially since Trainer doesn’t have his tour card and a win would mean two years of job security. Alas, Trainer chunked his third, and when Lowry missed a 10-footer to reopen the door, Trainer’s attempt to tie from seven feet never came close. A nine-under 63 in foursomes is brilliant in itself, to say nothing of Sunday’s tough conditions, but the life-altering opportunity for Trainer was not to be.

“Just playing it like a normal hole. Doing the best we can,” Trainer said about the final hole. “Obviously golf is hard, and sometimes it doesn't go your way. We did the best we could and had a chance, and that's all you can ask for really.”

Remarkably it’s Lowry’s first PGA Tour win since his Open triumph at Royal Portrush in 2019, and his seventh career professional victory. As for McIlroy, Sunday marked his 25th trophy on the PGA Tour, tying him with Johnny Miller, Tommy Armour and Macdonald Smith for 23rd on the tour’s all-time wins list.

“Yeah, absolutely amazing,” McIlroy said. “I think, yeah, to win any PGA Tour event is very cool, but to do it with one of your closest friends, we've known each other for a long, long time, probably like over 20 years, so to think about where we met and where we've come from, to be on this stage and do this together, really, really cool journey that we've been a part of, and yeah, just awesome to be able to do it alongside this guy.”

No world ranking points are attached to the Zurich Classic, yet with both men well outside the top 30 in the FedEx Cup following so-so starts to the 2024 campaign, their conquest puts them on the right side of the Tour Championship benchmark heading into the second half of the season. Their win was the best-case scenario for the tournament, both its officials and its fans. They were the marquee attraction in a field short of star power and with their Irish backgrounds one of the few pairings that had a built-in storyline that was easy to root for. Conversely, what we witnessed on Sunday was the Platonic ideal of a tour team event, and that it happened only proved that what is promised is rarely delivered.

RELATED: Here are the clubs Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry used to win the Zurich Classic

Since moving to this structure in 2017, the Zurich’s had notable winners in Jon Rahm, Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele, and Cam Smith before he was an Open and Players champ. In that same breath, this year’s lack of recognizable names wasn’t an aberration, and the field—with 80 two-man teams—often features players with limited or no status to fill those spots. This year, one of those players was 65-year-old Russ Cochran, who had not played a PGA Tour event in 11 seasons. Tournaments sandwiched between the Masters and PGA Championship often struggle to attract viable fields, and that truth has only become harder with the RBC Heritage and Wells Fargo Championship earning signature event designation. The upshot is most of the pairings seem random, with no narrative or fan hook.

Moreover, that TPC Louisiana is not exactly one of the crown jewels of the tour’s rota doesn’t help the tournament’s plight. Nor does lackluster crowds. The Zurich did have scheduling rivals in the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and the New Orleans Pelicans hosted an NBA Playoff game on Saturday afternoon. The golf fans that were on the grounds consolidated around McIlroy and Lowry leaving the rest of the course relatively open.

One of the tour’s biggest issues is that the golf mostly looks exactly the same as the golf played the week before, so on that front, kudos for the tour and tournament officials for attempting to inject creativity. That should not be conflated with success. As the PGA Tour continues to re-evaluate its business in the wake of its new equity investment and potential partnership with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, perhaps it’s time for the Zurich’s format to be altered again. It’s no coincidence that, of the many struggles LIV Golf has had in gaining traction with the general public, its team component is chief among them. And the beauty of what’s seen at the Ryder Cup is not just team component but the level of care it conjures , a care that cannot be replicated. The tour knows this, considering its own problems with garnering fanfare for its Presidents Cup.

RELATED: Watch Rory sing 'Don't Stop Believin'' at the top of his lungs

As for how to improve the Zurich product, this part of the calendar seems ripe for the now-defunct Match Play to be resurrected, allowing for equidistant time between the green jacket and Wanamaker. With continued calls for a mixed tournament between PGA and LPGA stars, this would also be a good juncture rather than resigning it to the silly season. Even though innovativeness wasn’t the answer with the current format, it’s still the undercurrent the tour needs to ride to get the New Orleans stop where it needs to go.

In golf, two of the most powerful warriors are often patience and time. That was on display Sunday, as McIlroy and Lowry didn’t necessarily make a charge as much as they outlasted their competitors. Perhaps that’s what the Zurich needs, patience and time, more runway to let its team format grow. Yet to continue to give the Zurich both in hopes it will produce more finishes like Sunday could mean waiting for a day that never returns.

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Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry rally to win Zurich Classic team event in a playoff

Shane Lowry, of Ireland, hoists up teammate Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, after they won the PGA Zurich Classic golf tournament at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, La., Sunday, April 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Shane Lowry, of Ireland, right, embraces his teammate Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, after winning the PGA Zurich Classic golf tournament at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, La., Sunday, April 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, chips onto the second green during the final round of the PGA Zurich Classic golf tournament at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, La., Sunday, April 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, hits of the second tee during the final round of the PGA Zurich Classic golf tournament at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, La., Sunday, April 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, putts on the first green during the final round of the PGA Zurich Classic golf tournament at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, La., Sunday, April 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, left, approaches teammate Shane Lowry, of Ireland, as he reacts after bogeying the third hole during the final round of the PGA Zurich Classic golf tournament at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, La., Sunday, April 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, looks at his ball off the rough, hit by teammate Shane Lowry, of Ireland, right, during the final round of the PGA Zurich Classic golf tournament at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, La., Sunday, April 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Chad Ramey, left, shakes hands with teammate Martin Trainer after being eliminated in a playoff against Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, and Shane Lowry, of Ireland, finishing second in the PGA Zurich Classic golf tournament at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, La., Sunday, April 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, standing, and his teammate Shane Lowry, of Ireland, line up a shot on the 17th green during the final round of the PGA Zurich Classic golf tournament at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, La., Sunday, April 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, left, and teammate Shane Lowry, of Ireland, wait to tee off the 17th hole during the final round of the PGA Zurich Classic golf tournament at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, La., Sunday, April 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, chips for the rough onto the 17th green during the final round of the PGA Zurich Classic golf tournament at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, La., Sunday, April 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, and teammate Shane Lowry, of Ireland, right hold up their trophy after winning the PGA Zurich Classic golf tournament at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, La., Sunday, April 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

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NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry received a standing ovation at historic, creole French Quarter restaurant Arnaud’s on the eve of their final round at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans team event.

They also had the largest, loudest galleries at the TPC Louisiana, where the charismatic, 34-year-old McIlroy, had not previously played.

“He’s getting old, but he still moves the needle a little bit,” Lowry joked as McIlroy chuckled. “Rory brings a crowd and people love him and we’ve gotten a lot of love in New Orleans. We’ve had just the best week.”

McIlroy and Lowry won Sunday, beating Chad Ramey and Martin Trainer with a nervy par on the first hole of a playoff.

Trainer pushed a 6-foot par putt to the right of the cup to end it, with Lowry lifting a laughing McIlroy off the ground with a bear hug on the green.

“To win any PGA Tour event is very cool, but to do it with one of your closest friends — we’ve known each other for a long, long time, probably like over 20 years,” McIlroy said. “To think about where we met and where we’ve come from, to be on this stage and do this together — really, really cool journey that we’ve been a part of.”

McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, won his 25th PGA Tour title and first of the season. Lowry, of Ireland, claimed his third PGA Tour victory. Each walked away with about $1.29 million and 400 FedEx Cup points apiece.

“People have come out in the thousands to support us. It’s not lost on me how cool that is,” McIlroy said. “Every time I get to play in front of thousands of people, the little boy in me just thinks it’s so cool and so exciting.”

The Irish tandem closed with a 4-under 68 in the alternate-shot final round in windy conditions to match Ramey and Trainer at 25-under 263.

Ramey and Trainer began the day tied for 27th at 16 under and shot to the top of the leaderboard with nine birdies between the seventh and 18th holes. They tied the alternate-shot tournament record of 63, but then had to wait nearly three hours to see if their lead would stand up.

“That was to our advantage,” McIlroy said. “I feel for Martin and Chad a little bit. They played an unbelievable round of golf. To shoot 63 out there in those conditions in foursomes is super impressive.”

Trainer opened the playoff hole by pulling his drive into the left rough,. Ramey also yanked his approach left off the cart path and into the wall below the suites around the 18th green. Trainer then chipped short before Ramey finally got his team on the green.

“Obviously, golf is hard, and sometimes it doesn’t go your way,” Trainer said. “We did the best we could and had a chance, and that’s all you can ask for, really.”

Ramey said he and Trainer were disappointed, but stressed that, “There’s a lot of really good things to take from this week, and that’s what I’m going to do.”

Lowry narrowly missed his mark twice on the playoff hole, putting an approach in a bunker and then leaving a birdie putt for the victory on the edge of the cup.

But Lowry had come through when he had to on the final regulation hole, forcing the playoff with a short birdie putt on the par-5 18th, capitalizing on McIlroy’s deft lofted chip from the apron that stopped close to the pin.

Ryan Brehm and Mark Hubbard nearly made the playoff as well. Needing a birdie, they went long off the 18th green on their second shot. Hubbard’s chip up the back apron stopped short on the fringe, but Brehm still nearly sank a birdie putt, leaving the ball near the right edge of the cup as the crowd gasped. They finished third at 24 under.

Former BYU teammates Patrick Fishburn and Zach Blair, the leaders through three rounds, were still tied for the lead heading to the par-3 17th, only to make a double bogey after Blair’s tee shot landed right of the green and Fishburn chipped short. They wound up in a four-way tie for fourth at 23 under.

McIlroy and Lowry began the day two shots off the lead. They opened the round with Lowry’s tee shot into the woods on the right side of the hole, and they bogeyed two of their first three holes before beginning their charge on the seventh, where McIlroy made the first of four birdie putts over the next five holes.

McIlroy had two mis-hits down the stretch that could have been costly, leaving an approach shot well short of the green on the par-4 13th and hitting short into a fairway bunker on the short par-4 16th.

Lowry chipped to about 10 feet and McIlroy saved par on 13. On 16, Lowry found the left side of the green with his approach shot from the sand and McIlroy sank a right-breaking birdie putt to lift his team into a tie for first at 25-under.

“Being able to rely on each other a little bit, I think that’s what really helped us,” McIlroy said.

The Irishmen bogeyed 17 after Lowry’s faded tee shot landed in the gallery right of the green and McIlroy’s chip over the ridge of a bunker ran past the hole.

That meant they would have to have a birdie on 18 to force a playoff. They got it, starting with McIlroy’s clutch, booming tee shot into the water-lined fairway.

Before leaving the TPC Louisiana grounds, McIlroy and Lowry walked onstage while the New Orleans-based 1980s cover band The Molly Ringwalds was performing a post-tournament concert. The band gave McIlroy a microphone, and he serenaded the crowd, singing Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’.”

“The reason that Shane and I both started to play golf is because we thought it was fun at some stage in our life,” McIlroy said. “Reinjecting a little bit of that fun back into it in a week like this week, it can always help.”

A previous version of this story misidentified the band with which McIlroy sang at the Zurich Classic. The band was the Molly Ringwalds.

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Rory McIlroy produces spectacular finish as he maintains winning start

Rory McIlroy produced the shot of the day at the 18th as he came within four feet of making an albatross on his way to securing a second successive victory on day two of the 2023 WGC - Dell Technologies Match Play.

Leading his opponent Denny McCarthy by one hole with just the par-four last to play, McIlroy drove the green, with his ball finishing up around four feet from the hole for a tap-in eagle.

The four-time Major Champion had found himself three down in the early stages of the match but fought back with wins at the seventh, eighth and tenth before going ahead for the first time courtesy of a birdie at the 16th.

And his heroics on the final hole secured a two-hole victory and a second point.

McIlroy will meet Keegan Bradley on Friday to decide who progresses to the knockout phase after the American saw off Scott Stallings 6&5 in the day's final match.

Speaking about his big finish, McIlroy said: "It was good. I didn't think that I could get it on the green, then I was walking up there and was told that it flew on the green.

"I played really well. Denny got off to a really good start and was 3UP early and then I just played really well, played really solid - didn't make a bogey today and made some birdies when I needed to.

"Thankfully I was able to win the match."

Matt Fitzpatrick picked up his first point of the week with a hard-fought 2&1 victory over Min Woo Lee in Pool 11.

The 2022 U.S. Open Champion banished the memory of Wednesday's 5&3 loss to J. J. Spaun at Austin Country Club, but was made to work very hard for his point.

Lee fought back from a one-hole deficit on three occasions before victories at the 13th and 15th allowed Englishman Fitzpatrick to move two clear.

And he sealed the win in style, walking in his birdie putt from around 20 feet on the 17th.

The 28-year-old needs to win his match against Sahith Theegala on Friday and hope Spaun takes nothing from his meeting with Lee if he is to advance.

"Today was much better," said Fitzpatrick.

"I've definitely got a good chance. I need a little bit of help but, you know, all I can do is go out there and control what I can and do as best as I can."

Australian Lucas Herbert secured his second consecutive victory in Pool 14 late in the day, beating Tyrrell Hatton 2&1 after winning three holes without reply on the back nine, while Russell Henley beat fellow American Ben Griffin 5&4.

Victory for the reigning US Open champion 👊 @MattFitz94 2&1 vs Lee. #DellMatchPlay pic.twitter.com/wAOglf0PzV — DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) March 23, 2023

World Number One and defending champion Scottie Scheffler won six holes without reply as he came from behind to secure a comfortable 5&4 win over Alex Noren and claim his second point.

Elsewhere in Pool 1, Davis Riley beat Tom Kim by one hole.

Tommy Fleetwood holed his birdie putt from around ten feet at the last to tie his match with Maverick McNealy but the result eliminates them both after J. T. Poston beat Sungjae Im by one hole in Pool 16's other encounter.

Jon Rahm bounces back with comfortable win on day two in Austin

Jon Rahm stormed to a 4&3 victory over Keith Mitchell on the second day of the 2023 WGC - Dell Technologies Match Play to pick up his first point in Pool 2 and keep his hopes of progressing alive.

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Rory McIlroy “carries” Shane Lowry to 25th PGA Tour win at Zurich Classic

The all-Irish duo of McIlroy and Lowry came from behind Sunday to capture the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

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The PGA Tour is in New Orleans this week for the only team event on tour, the Zurich Classic.

Despite a tumultuous round by Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry , the Irish duo came out on top in a playoff over Martin Trainer and Chad Ramey.

It is McIlroy’s 25th career victory on the PGA Tour . Lowry notched his third and his first since winning The Open in 2019. But it was the former that did most of the heavy lifting.

“Let’s go and get 400 [FedEx Cup] points each. That’s what we’ve done, and I nearly feel a little bit bad taking them because Rory carried me a lot of the way,” Lowry said with a smile after the win.

Nearly three hours before the 72nd hole had been played by all teams, Trainer and Ramey entered the clubhouse at 25-under par. A number of pairs were already at or just below that number with practically an entire round to play.

Yet, windy conditions made scoring very difficult as no one would finish any lower.

A bogey on 17 for McIlroy and Lowry dropped them one shot off the pace. But the Northern Irishman made up for it on 18 with a fantastic chip . That set up a short birdie putt, which Lowry drained to get into the playoff.

RORY MCILROY! Shane Lowry has a chance to sink that putt to tie the lead. pic.twitter.com/hkma9BdZeK — Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) April 28, 2024

In the playoff, Ramey and Trainer’s rust showed. Two hours and 54 minutes after they finished their round, Trainer’s tee shot missed the fairway left. Despite getting a clean lie just short of the fairway bunker, Ramey yanked his 3-wood well left of the green.

Meanwhile, McIlroy’s tee shot found the fairway. Lowry’s approach came up just short, nestling into the greenside bunker. But they were still in decent shape.

Trainer chunked his third and Ramey chipped up near the hole, leaving a makable 5-footer for par.

McIlroy hit a decent bunker shot, which left his fellow Irishman with 10 feet for the win. But just like much of the week, Lowry’s putter failed him. He missed the putt just above the hole and it appeared as though a massive opportunity slipped away.

Moments later though, Trainer inexplicably missed his short par putt, sealing the victory for McIlroy and Lowry.

“Absolutely amazing. We’ve had an awesome week here in New Orleans. The crowds all week have been absolutely amazing. To get the support that we’ve had out there and to have so much fun while doing it, it’s been an awesome week, and obviously I feel like it’s just a bonus to win at the end,” McIlroy said.

“But couldn’t be better to have this man alongside me to get a PGA Tour win together.”

It likely was not the way they envisioned winning, but a victory is a victory, however it comes.

This was McIlroy’s first time playing in this event. He had such a great time and received such a warm welcome, that he already let everyone know his future plans.

“I’d say we’re going to come back and defend next year.”

In a much-needed boost, Lowry and McIlroy jumped to 12th and 15th respectively on the FedEx Cup points list with the win.

Kendall Capps is the Senior Editor of SB Nation’s Playing Through. For more golf coverage, follow us @_PlayingThrough on all major social media platforms.

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