How Shane Lowry and Brooks Koepka found themselves a team at Zurich Classic
AVONDALE, La. – What’s Shane Lowry’s standards for Zurich Classic companions?
“Multiple majors,” quipped Lowry, who after teaming with Rory McIlroy for 2 straight years at TPC Louisiana, the place they gained in 2024, has changed the six-time main champion with somebody who boasts 5, Brooks Koepka.
Lowry’s courting of Koepka not lengthy after Christmas, earlier than Koepka formally rejoined the PGA Tour after 4 seasons with LIV Golf. The two have been practising at Grove XXIII in Hobe Sound, Florida, when Lowry, understanding McIlroy wasn’t eager on one other return to New Orleans, made the primary ask – humorous sufficient, he did so whereas sitting at a desk with McIlroy.
“I might need a partner,” Lowry advised Koepka, who he is recognized since Koepka’s early days taking part in in Europe.
Koepka responded: “Well, I’m going to have to play there.”
A couple of weeks later at the Seminole Pro-Member, the plan was finalized.
“To the outside, it might not look like it makes sense, but you know, to us it does,” Lowry added. “I think the ball (both play Srixon models), everything about it, you know, we do have a good relationship. We’re going to have a good bit of fun out there.”
Added Koepka: “The way Shane drives the ball, the way my iron play has been lately, and then Shane’s short game, I mean, I think it’s a pretty good combination.”
Lowry is searching for a enhance, having not posted a top-10 end since his heartbreaking T-2 at the Cognizant Classic and lately posting his second straight Masters ultimate spherical of 80 or worse. Koepka, in the meantime, waited round all of final Thursday at the RBC Heritage as the primary alternate, solely to not get within the signature-even area. Koepka has been trending, although, tying for twelfth at the Masters, one in every of 4 top-20s in seven begins this yr.
While Koepka ranks second on Tour in strokes gained strategy, the putter has been a work in progress. Koepka stays outdoors the highest 100 in strokes gained placing, at No. 141, as he continues to solidify wholesale adjustments together with his new mallet and placing coach, Mike Kanski.
“It’s gotten a lot better,” Koepka stated of his play on the greens. “I’ve got a tremendous understanding of where I’m at. The first month is never going to be great. You’re not going to see just immediately, all of a sudden I feel like I’m Jordan Spieth when he holed everything. It just doesn’t work like that. But there’s been a lot of changes. … There’s five different things going on, but I feel like I’ve got a good grasp of it, good control of it, and the dispersion has gotten a whole lot tighter.”
Added Lowry, who ranks thirty fifth in driving accuracy: “My job is to try and hit it in the fairway and let him do his thing, and we’ll be OK from there.”
The solely level of competition between the 2 companions? Maybe their NFL allegiances. Lowry has turn out to be a Chicago Bears fan in recent times whereas Koepka backs the Green Bay Packers.
